A former soldier who served with The Black Watch has been jailed for six months at Perth Sheriff Court.
The court previously heard that Andrew Shaw, 26, c/o Alexander Drive, Bridge of Earn, had effectively stolen back his own Blackberry mobile phone, which he had borrowed money against, and had then taken it “three shops down the road”, where he sold it for £30.
He admitted the offence, which took place on January 8 at Mobile Solutions on Perth High Street. Solicitor Rosie Scott, defending, said that her client had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson told the court that Shaw went into Mobile Solutions at around 9am and made an inquiry about acquiring a phone.
“While the member of staff was momentarily distracted, he simply grabbed the phone and ran out,” he said.
“He then made his way to another mobile phone shop and sold the phone for £30.”
The court heard that police were informed about what Shaw had done so they went to the shop.
“When Shaw had left the shop, he had left all his contact details there,” Mr Richardson added.
Mrs Scott said that Shaw’s actions of taking his own phone were “stupid” and revealed he had been attending psychological services.
She said: “He had been given the phone by his father. He had been short of money, had problems paying his rent and at that time had buried his head in the sand.”
The court heard that sentence had been deferred on Monday as Shaw had failed to complete a number of community payback orders.
At an earlier court appearance in March, he had been ordered to complete unpaid work but the court heard that he was struck by illness within a couple of days.
Mrs Scott said her client had attended and completed the first day, but the second day he was due to go back he phoned and left a message and went to the doctor.
On Wednesday, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis revoked the community payback orders and sentenced Shaw to six months in prison.