An Edzell man who carried out a burglary at a neighbour’s home narrowly avoided jail at Forfar Sheriff Court.
Connor Mack, admitted that on May 18 he broke into the house in the town’s High Street and stole a suitcase, laptop, soap bag, mobile phone and clothing.
The 24-year-old previously admitted that between April 15 and May 15 last year at his home address he stole a watch.
He also broke a bail condition not to enter Edzell High Street on March 27 this year.
Defence agent Nick Markowski said drugs had been a feature of his client’s life but that Mack had now put this behind him and that his life had “improved dramatically”.
He said: “He was an apprentice draftsman but he got involved in the recreational misuse of drugs which had an impact on his mental health, his employment and his family.
“He lived the lifestyle of a drug addict for a significant period.
“He is now back in the family home and is currently looking for seasonal work.
“I would suggest that there is an alternative to custody. He is fit enough to carry out unpaid work.
“It appears that he has turned his life around and he is living a completely different lifestyle now. He has the support of his family and everything is in place for him to move forward.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray said he would impose the maximum amount of hours of unpaid work as an alternative to custody as punishment for the burglary.
He told Mack: “For the theft from the neighbour’s property I am going to place you on a community payback order for 18 months under the supervision of the social work department.
“I will also impose 200 hours of unpaid work, reduced from 300 hours to take account of your plea, which is the most I can give you.
“I will fix a review of this in three months and I expect that to be glowing because if you muck this up you are going to prison.”
The sheriff deferred sentence on the other two cases until the review on August 4.