Perth thief’s taste for luxury leaves him out of pocket

A thief who tried stealing a champagne lifestyle ended up almost £1,500 out of pocket.

In a bid to escape with his luxury plunder, John McKechnie smashed into a glass door at the Marks & Spencer store in Perth, causing £1,000 worth of damage.

The city’s sheriff court was told that the 35-year-old was spotted on CCTV making off with five bottles of champagne and nine packets of steak worth a total of £261.58 and, flush from his success, the thief returned later the same day for more goodies, but was confronted by security staff.

Solicitor Cliff Culley revealed his client had been “sent off the rails” by the death of his mother and had sought solace in alcohol.

McKechnie, of Kirkgate Mews, Perth, admitted that on August 22 last year, at Marks and Spencer, he stole five bottles of champagne and nine packets of meat and also barged into a glass door, causing it to break.

He also admitted that on the same day, at Matalan on Victoria Street, he stole a quantity of men’s clothing. He was fined £450 and ordered to pay compensation of £1,000.