A “hapless” thief who was caught standing beside the Montrose home he’d broken into with a bag of stolen goods and covered in his own blood has been jailed.
Stephen Gibb carried out the “amateur” raid on a woman’s flat in Beacon Road, stealing her slippers, beauty products and TV remote controls.
The 24-year-old also took speakers, headphones, jewellery, perfume, a watch, mobile phones and a camera during the break-on on December 2.
When caught by police he blamed his relatives for his behaviour, telling officers “I’m so sorry, it’s my family”.
On the same day he had threatened his mother and aunt with violence, calling them derogatory names and telling them “you’ll be getting your windows panned in”.
Unemployed Gibb had become enraged after his family challenged him about his substance misuse.
He had been abusing alcohol and drugs in his mother’s house in Brechin until the early hours of the morning.
Later he made his way to Montrose where he carried out the break-in by throwing a brick through a window.
Fiscal depute Charmaine Gilmartin said: “Police Scotland received a 999 call about a house being broken into.
“A number of officers attended.
“They observed the accused standing nearby.
“Upon seeing the police vehicles the accused ran away, leaving a plastic bag with blood stains.
“The front door was slightly ajar and the glass panel on top of the door had been smashed.
“The property was in a cluttered and messy state and a window had been smashed.”
Gibb’s defence solicitor told Dundee Sheriff Court that his client’s crime had been “opportunistic” rather than planned, adding: “That is perhaps evidenced by the amateur and hapless manner in which it was carried out.
“The brick was left there, there was significant blood and he suffered cuts to his hand.
“He was heavily intoxicated and was under the influence of illicit substances.
“He has a history of mental health difficulties, notably anxiety and depression.”
Gibb pled guilty to two charges of housebreaking and behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.
Sheriff Robert Dickson jailed Gibb, a prisoner at HMP Perth, for 29 months backdated to December 4 when he was first remanded in custody.
