A Montrose man stole an iPad and cash from his grandmother’s partner, after breaking into his home and claiming: “Granny usually leaves me money”.
Lewis Greenan – also known as Lewis Steele – admitted breaking into the vulnerable man’s home on Caird Avenue in March this year.
The unemployed housebreaker made off with £45 and was caught after trying to sell the Apple device on a local trading website.
He appeared via video-link from prison at Dundee Sheriff Court, where he admitted his crime.
Thefts from vulnerable man’s flat
Depute fiscal Lora Apostolova told the court: “The complainer, Francis Hutton, is deemed vulnerable.
“He was awoken in the early hours of March 29 this year and found the accused in his living room.
“Greenan made his way to the complainer’s bedroom.
“He said his grandmother had left him money.
“The complainer later checked his wallet. He noticed £45 missing.
“CCTV footage showed the accused entering the property.
“The accused had placed the iPad tablet device on an Arbroath sellers website.”
The court heard there was no recovery of the money or the iPad.
Sentence deferred
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie, in mitigation for 22-year-old Greenan, said: “He was already subject to a community payback order at the time – this has just finished.
“He has a significant record but nothing at this level of offending.
“He does have issues with drugs and alcohol.”
Sheriff George Way deferred sentence, adding: “I will call for reports and a restriction of liberty order assessment.
“I will remit this case to Forfar Sheriff Court for sentencing, because of the age of the accused and his significant involvement (with another sheriff) there.”
Greenan, of Little Nursery, Montrose, was remanded in custody and will return to court in Forfar for sentencing on August 18.
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