A serial housebreaker who mounted a costly raid on a Kinross curry house has been jailed for two years.
One-man crimewave Andrew Stobbs stole a cash register and 48 wine bottles from the award-winning Raj Mahal.
Earlier that day, the 37-year-old broke into a garden shed and was spotted cycling away with hundreds of pounds worth of tools.
He also twice targeted the Kinross 4×4 Centre, a Land Rover dealership on Clashburn Road, and stole catalytic converters, a turbocharger and an exhaust pipe.
Stobbs was eventually caught by police when they saw him leaping out of a house window.
He was tackled by officers as he tried to make his escape through neighbours’ gardens.
Stobbs was jailed for 24 months when he appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court on Thursday.
Sheriff Euan Duthie told him he would be monitored after he comes out of jail as part of a six-month supervised release order “to protect the general public from serious harm.”
Stole to feed drug habit
Solicitor Linda Clark, defending, said: “All of this conduct stems from a drug habit that Mr Stobbs had.
“He acknowledges that it was inevitable that a custodial sentence would be imposed.
“And he recognises that he will require some form of supervision and assistance in the community.”
Fiscal depute Lora Apostalova told the court Stobbs had walked into the Kinross High Street restaurant on September 14 2020.
“Owner Jahed Ahmed confirmed that a cash register – valued at £400 – had been taken from the back area of the bar.
“It contained around £150 worth of money.
“Also taken was about £200 in loose cash, which was in a cupboard under the bar.”
The fiscal depute added: “Mr Ahmed also confirmed that within his wine fridge, 38 bottles of various white wines, champagnes and Proseccos were missing from a bottle rack.
“Boxes containing 10 bottles of white wine were also missing.
“The missing drink was worth around £1,000.”
Tackled by police
The court heard, earlier that morning, Stobbs stole tools – including a £330 hedge trimmer and a strimmer worth £139 – from a garden shed at the Muirs, Kinross.
A neighbour saw him cycling off, carrying tools wrapped in a plastic bag.
Stobbs raided the 4×4 Centre on January 19 and February 1 the following year and took items from two vehicles.
On February 6 last year, Stobbs was spotted by a neighbour at a darkened, unoccupied property in Montgomery Road, Kinross.
Police arrived to see him jumping out of a window.
“They gave chase and caught the accused in a nearby garden,” the fiscal depute said.
“He was handcuffed and searched.
“A wrap of cocaine, with an approximate value of £180 to £200, was found on his person.”
Stobbs, a prisoner in Perth, admitted two counts of theft by housebreaking, two counts of theft from a motor vehicle, a charge of housebreaking with intent to steal and possession of a class A drug.,
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