Would-be thief was ‘pie-eyed’ during break-in attempt

A “pie-eyed” attempt to break into a shop has hit a Perthshire man hard in the pocket.

Police officers spoke to Shaun Gray as he lurked outside Poundstretchers on Perth’s Scott Street in the early hours of July 21 last year.

At 8.30am the following day, staff arriving at the store noticed that a pane of glass on the front door had been smashed.

Unfortunately for the 19-year-old accused, he was caught on CCTV as he kicked the door and put his foot through the glass before making several desperate attempts to unlock the front entrance.

He later told the police: “I have no recollection of that.” Solicitor Linda Clark said that the CCTV footage showed that her client could “barely stand”.

Gray, of Sauchob Place, Methven, admitted the attempted break-in at Poundstretchers, with intent to steal.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said: “This has arisen as a result of you getting completely and utterly pie-eyed.”

He fined Gray £600 and ordered him to pay £100 compensation.