Police catch thief with £2.7k of Christmas gifts

Police saved Christmas for a Dundee family after a thief made off with all their presents just hours before the big day.

Alexander Westwater broke into a house in Buttars Place in the Charleston area on Christmas Eve and stole scores of gifts, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.

Westwater stole a laptop, aftershave, clothing, jewellery and a mobile phone and charger, as well as other goods.

The court heard that the victims had intended to give the items as Christmas presents.

As the family were reporting the break-in, police officers spotted Westwater carrying two big bags filled with the stolen presents on Clepington Road.

Officers retrieved the gifts and later returned them to the family.

Fiscal depute Isma Mukhtar told the court: “The complainers left the locus at 6.30pm, securing the front door.

“When they returned at 9pm they noticed various items were missing from the property which they had intended to give as Christmas presents.

“Police attended and while officers were noting details of the incident, they heard over their radio that Westwater had been detained with two large bags containing various items.”

The bags contained most of the presents stolen from the house on Buttars Close.

The stolen items were valued at £2,756.99 — and only £62 worth of goods were not recovered.

Solicitor Jim Laverty, defending, said: “My client says the items were not gift-wrapped when he stole them, but accepts that they were intended to be used as Christmas presents.

“He has substantial drug addiction issues and has suffered a number of personal and family tragedies this year.”

Westwater, 36, of Thurso Crescent, admitted breaking into the house and stealing the goods.

Sheriff Lorna Drummond said: “I will defer sentence on you for a criminal and justice social work report and place you on a curfew until then.”

Sentence was deferred until January 25.

Westwater was ordered to stay within his home address between 7pm and 7am daily.