An opportunist thief who admitted stealing cash from a Hilltown butcher’s shop was placed under supervision for a year.
Martin Blake, 45, of Byron Street, was seen on CCTV to take the money, amounting to £90, which was the shop’s “float” and had been left on a chair in the premises near the end of the day’s trading, the court heard.
Fiscal depute Kate Irwin said that Blake was seen by a staff member leaving the shop’s office and he was challenged and detained.
Police were called and he was arrested. The money was fully recovered from his possession, she said.
Blake admitted stealing a quantity of money from Yorke’s Butcher, Strathmartine Road, on January 20, while on bail.
Solicitor Anika Jethwa told the court it was an opportunist theft.
She said: “The float money was sitting on a chair and he took it. He was stopped by two members of staff.”
Ms Jethwa told the court while Blake had an “appalling” record, his rate of offending had slowed down considerably while he was in a seven-year relationship.
However, the relationship had broken down two weeks earlier and he was very distressed by that.
“He had taken alcohol and he’s not used to drinking,” she said.
Sheriff Alastair Brown had previously deferred sentence to allow Blake to cooperate with social workers and when he returned to court he told Blake he would benefit from a period of supervision.
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