A career criminal caught trying to raid a top Perth hotel has been urged by a sheriff: “Get yourself another line of work – you’re really bad at this.”
Steven Flynn was found chilling out behind the reception desk of the Leonardo Boutique Hotel at Huntingtower.
He fled empty handed after trying to prise open a cash drawer.
CCTV revealed he had arrived at the wedding venue in the early hours on a stolen moped.
The 35-year-old, who was locked up in 2016 for a break-in at McDiarmid Park, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted being at the hotel with intent to steal.
Huntingtower Castle probe
Prosecutor David Currie said at around 9.15am on July 4, police were called to investigate a disturbance at Historic Scotland’s Huntingtower Castle.
“While they were there, officers received a call about an abandoned moped at the nearby Leonardo Boutique Hotel.
“They thought that the two incidents may have been connected.”
The court heard the owner of the £1,200 Piaggo moped was unaware it had been stolen.
Mr Currie told the court: “Earlier that morning, at about 6.15am, a member of staff arrived to begin her shift at the Leonardo Boutique hotel.
“She observed the accused, sitting on a chair behind the reception desk.
“The witness was startled by this because he was not a member of staff and should not have been there.”
The fiscal depute said: “The accused said that he was there to pick up an application form.
“She went to look for the document he was asking for but when she returned to reception the accused was gone.”
The hotel’s CCTV was reviewed and Flynn was seen parking the stolen moped at the back of the building.
Items were found scattered behind the reception desk and a plastic bag was sticking out of the cash drawer.
Police were contacted and officers investigating the incident at the castle attended.
Mr Currie said Flynn was identified using footage from the hotel’s security cameras.
He was arrested later that night.
He told police: “I was behind the counter. I was sitting in a chair.
“I don’t really know why. It was really comfy.”
Offending ‘doesn’t make sense’
Flynn pled guilty to stealing the moped from Drummond Crescent on July 4, and riding it with no licence or insurance.
He further admitted being inside the Leonard Boutique hotel with intent to steal and attempting to force open a locked cash drawer.
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said his client was working on a drug treatment and testing order.
“There is no real pattern to the offending here,” he said.
“It makes no sense.
“He gained nothing from this, but he accepts he did cause disruption.”
Mr Holmes pointed out Flynn had already spent the equivalent of a six month sentence on remand.
Sheriff Euan Duthie urged the accused to consider “another line of work” and deferred sentence until next month.
Flynn, of Cromlix Road, was released on bail.
