A thief who broke in to a woman’s home and stole her mobile phone as she slept on the couch was caught after police heard it ringing through the open window of his mother’s flat, a court has heard.
Alexander Westwater was jailed for the “terrifying” break-in, during which his victim woke up and found him standing near her.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Westwater took the phone back to his mother’s flat nearby.
When the householder gave a description of the man she found in her flat, officers suspected Westwater.
They went to his mother’s address and dialled the number of the stolen phone. They could then clearly hear it ringing and forced the door open.
Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie told the court: “The complainer was lying asleep on the sofa in the living-room. Around 1.15am she awoke and saw the accused standing at the bookcase.
“She screamed ‘get out of my house’ repeatedly, and he walked into the kitchen and climbed out of the window.
“Officers attended at the accused’s home address and had force control room call the number of the phone.
“It rang and simultaneously (they) heard ringing in the property.”
Westwater, 35, a prisoner at Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of theft by housebreaking.
Defence solicitor Kevin Hampton said: “He wishes me to convey his sincerest apologies to this lady.”
Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC jailed Westwater for 15 months.
She said: “It must have been a terrifying experience for her.”