MAN SWIPES BOOZE FROM HOUSE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
Published 17 Jan 2012 09:30
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A KILWINNING man was surprised to learn that his home had been burgled and several bottles of alcohol stolen- all while he was in the house, a court has heard.
The theft was made on the afternoon of November 27, when Robert English, 35, let himself into the property in Dalry Road.
Around 2.15pm a male resident of the street spotted English lurking in the garden of his neighbour. Correctly identifying his behaviour as suspicious, the neighbour approached English and asked him to leave, which he did.
However a short time later, English was spotted leaving the house by the side gate, clutching a bottle of gin and a bottle of champagne in his arms.
After observing this the same neighbour went to inform the homeowner, who had been within the property, but completely missed the incident.
Discovering the side door open, the gate unbolted and three bottles of alcohol missing he called the police, who soon found English in the street and stopped him.
The three stolen bottles were found behind a bin next to where he was standing.
English, a recovering heroin addict, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week where he admitted theft.
The court heard he had a string of convictions stretching back considerably and that he had been on probation since 2009, when his drug problem had been addressed.
Though he was now said to be stable on a steady prescription of methadone and anti-psychotic medication, his lawyer said he had "now begun to swap one addiction for another", with alcohol playing a much larger role in his life.
English, of Hamilton Crescent, Stevenston, was sentenced to a year on supervision, including alcohol counselling and monitoring of his drug use.
This article appeared in Irvine Times 11 Jan 12
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