An Angus man has admitted stealing around £900 in cash and alcohol from a pub in Arbroath.
Christopher Watt, 25, of Grant Road, Arbroath, appeared from custody at the town’s sheriff court on Monday, when his sentence was deferred for reports.
Watt admitted that he broke into the Fisherman’s Inn on the town’s High Street between 4am and 6am that day.
He forced open the cash register using a metal bar and left the pub with £910.64 worth of bottles of alcohol and money.
The forensic team investigating the case were able to establish Watt as the accused after finding blood and broken glass at the scene.
Watt’s defence agent said his client’s alcohol consumption was, by his own admission, getting “out of control”.
The solicitor said: “There is a background of not only mental health issues but also alcohol and drug abuse. Over the past couple of weeks his alcohol consumption has escalated to being out of control.
“He has also been using valium and mephedrone. He says he has never felt as bad in his life and he is desperate to get help. He really is at rock bottom and his intention was to steal alcohol.”
Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence for three weeks for the preparation of reports but refused a motion for bail and remanded Watt, saying he was “safer in prison rather than on the streets,” given his state.