A crack-cocaine addict broke into a Dundee University art building, raided offices and left a trail of blood after embarking on a stealing spree.
Alistair Anderson claimed he was employed as a cleaner at the institution when confronted by police but could not provide any evidence of this.
The 41-year-old stole £100 in cash and a number of electrical items, including laptops, camcorders, cameras, a microphone, a mobile phone, a TV and a CD player from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.
Among the other items taken were boxing equipment, a fan, a bike saddle, a peli case, trainers, a heart rate monitor, a black cap, welding glass, paint and white spirit.
Anderson was on two bail orders at the time of the offence, which he committed on February 19, and he was jailed for 16 months on Tuesday.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard that DJCAD security staff were alerted to Anderson’s activities just before 10pm when they discovered a smashed window and heard alarms being activated on various floors of the building.
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They found an Aldi bag containing four packets of bacon, a laptop and other electrical items, as well as blood trails on the ground and on doors.
Police were called and found a number of offices had been broken into and ransacked, with more bloodstains found.
Depute fiscal Laura Bruce said: “The accused voluntarily stated (to police) that he was working as a cleaner and there were two other persons within, who had followed him into the building.
“However, no employment confirmation was available and no other people were found within the building.”
Police searched Anderson and found a number of items including blood-soaked cash in his pockets.
Defence solicitor David Duncan admitted his client had a record that “did him no favours”, but pointed out he had had a long period of abstinence from drugs between 2016 and 2018.
He added: “He seemed to gave conquered his difficulties and was working.
“Unfortunately his brother died in 2018 and Mr Anderson returned to drug use. It was probably at the most serious level it has ever been.
“Around the time of the offence he was taking crack cocaine.”
Sheriff Thomas Hughes backdated Anderson’s sentence to February 21, when he was first remanded in custody.
