A teenager stole his mum’s wedding ring along with other valuable items of jewellery and pawned them, a sheriff was told.
Ian Houston, defence solicitor for Aidan McArdle, 19, of Commercial Street, told Dundee Sheriff Court his client had been abused by his stepfather for several years and had never forgiven him or his mum for allowing it to happen.
Mr Houston said: “He says he will not rest until he sees his stepfather behind bars.
“That’s how badly he feels towards him for the cruel way he was treated.”
Fiscal depute Charmaine Gilmartin told the court McArdle had moved out of his mum’s home when he was 13 and had gone to live with his father.
On November 16 last year, he asked to move back into his mother’s home at Bennan Gardens in Broughty Ferry and did so the following day. On January 21, his mum noticed that several items of jewellery, a TV and a power tool were missing.
Ms Gilmartin said a gold wedding ring, valued at £2,000, a charm bracelet also worth £2,000 and a gold chain worth £300 were stolen and pawned by McArdle.
He got £80 for the wedding ring, £250 for the bracelet and £65 for the chain from the pawnbroker, she said. In addition, he was given £25 for the TV by Cash Converters.
McArdle admitted stealing the items, none of which were recovered.
The court heard that staff at the pawnbrokers said they would investigate, but it was likely the items would have been melted down for the gold.
Mr Houston said it was a sad case and McArdle was an intelligent young man.
He said his stepfather appeared in his life when he was six and had been physically abusive to him, adding: “He had a terrible time with his stepfather. He used to go to school with black eyes and he’s never forgiven him and never forgiven his mother for not stopping the abuse.”
Mr Houston said McArdle had been working as a charity fundraiser prior to his detention on this matter, but admitted “his record does give cause for concern”.
Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC said she would call for reports, but as he was on two bail orders, she was not going to give him bail and remanded him in custody.
She deferred sentence until March 29 for a social work background report and a restriction of liberty order assessment.
McArdle’s mum and stepdad declined to comment on the matter when approached by the Tele.
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