A thief who broke into a Premier League football stadium was left inside to steal cash and keys by the bungling police officers who turned up to check the security alarm.
The officers noticed a window open at McDiarmid Park but they failed to spot it had been jemmied with a crowbar and never noticed that Steven Flynn was still inside the building.
They also failed to notice several other obvious clues including the trail of muddy footprints Flynn had left and the crowbar he had dumped at the reception area.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that Flynn – who has convictions for 120 previous crimes – opened a door onto the pitch and casually wandered around St Johnstone’s ground until the police went away.
It was only when the cleaner turned up several hours later and noticed that Flynn had rummaged around several cupboards and stolen keys and charity cash that a full investigation began.
Flynn, 29, has been jailed for 16 months after he admitted breaking into St Johnstone’s stadium on 14 November last year and stealing keys and a charity box containing £20.
Fiscal depute Sue Ruta told the court: “At 2.40 am there had been an alarm activation within the stadium. Police attended and noted an insecure window on the ground floor.
“Officers believed that had been accidentally left open and they left the stadium. Shortly after 7am one of the cleaners arrived to carry out her duties.
“When she arrived the main entrance alarm was sounding. When she turned the lights on she noticed the cupboard behind reception was open and items had been moved.
“She phoned police and they arrived at 7.20am. They noted there were muddy footprints within the reception area and foyer which led to the stairwell to the second floor.
“They looked at the window which had been insecure. On closer inspection it was discovered the internal handles had been broken off, and the external window frame had been bent as if someone had used a crow bar to force it open from outside.
“On further inspection they noticed a fire exit door ajar and a slide bolt was unlocked on a door leading to the pitch. Cupboards were open and items were strewn across the reception area.
“A crowbar covered in mud was recovered beneath the reception desk. CCTV covered this area and police viewed it and positively identified the accused.”
She said Flynn could clearly be seen entering the reception with a crowbar and putting items in his pocket before forcing open cupboard doors. He was seen to go upstairs when the police arrived.
He was traced at his home – close to the stadium – later the same day and freely admitted he had broken in and stolen charity money.
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said Flynn had been struggling to cope living on his own and had started taking drugs which led to him mounting up debts.
“He told the police he committed the offence because he wanted money,” Mr Holmes said. “Money was owed to the people from whom he received drugs.
“He lives close by. It was a rather clumsy attempt – he was muddy, there was CCTV and he made a full admission straight away.”
Sheriff Tait said she took a serious view of housebreaking and noted his long criminal record and sent Flynn, from Perth, to prison for 16 months.