A heartless housebreaker preyed on an 80-year-old Kinross widow and stole an “irreplaceable” watch that belonged to her late husband.
James Greenshields plundered thousands of pounds worth of expensive and highly sentimental items during two back-to-back daylight raids in January.
The 54-year-old was caught after leaving his mobile phone in one of the properties.
The former Glenrothes man appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted breaking into and stealing from homes in Kinross‘s Broom Road and Muirs areas.
He was jailed for three years.
Devastating impact
Sheriff David Hall told Greenshields, who previously served time for a knifepoint robbery at a Glenrothes corner shop: “You have a bad record.”
He said: “These two housebreakings were committed in broad daylight.
“In the first house you stole jewellery to the value of just under £3,000.
“That included a £2,000 engagement ring, which would have had emotional and sentimental value to its owner.”
The sheriff added: “In the second house, you stole a watch which belonged to the 80-year-old homeowner’s late husband.
“That would have had a devastating effect on this lady.
“This watch would have had high sentimental value and could not be replaced.
“There is no alternative to a custodial sentence.”
Greenshields, listed as a prisoner at HMP Low Moss, was sentenced to 18 months for each break-in.
Phone dropped in laundry room
The court heard Greenshields broke into a 42-year-old woman’s Broom Road property, while she was out.
She returned to find her jewellery and ring missing and broken glass strewn across her living room.
The next day, Greenshields struck at an 80-year-old woman’s home in nearby Muirs.
The pensioner found clothes had been disturbed in her laundry room, where it is thought the thief had climbed in.
She spotted a Samsung flip phone lying on the floor but initially thought it could have been left by a member of the family.
When investigators later pressed redial on the device, they got through to the Fife homeless unit where Greenshields had been staying.
Caught on camera
Fiscal depute Michael Dunlop told the court CCTV showed Greenshields at Broom Road on January 12 and Muirs the following day.
“Police seized the recovered mobile phone and confirmed that the number was connected to the accused.
“They were advised that the accused had left earlier (the homeless accommodation) that morning.
“Police searched his room, suspecting they would find the stolen property within.
“They did not find any of the items but they seized two shoes that matched the footwear seen on the January 12 CCTV footage.”
When Greenshields was arrested, he said: “I cannae remember.”
“At this time, he was wearing the same top that was seen on CCTV,” said Mr Dunlop.
Criminal record
Solicitor Larry Flynn, defending, said Greenshields had told police he would try to help recover the stolen items.
“Officers met with Mr Greenshields once or twice but ultimately they were not able to get the items back,” he said.
Mr Flynn said there had been a gap in his client’s offending after 2016.
“After that, Mr Greenshields got into a toxic relationship and things began to escalate.”
In 1999, Greenshields was jailed for four-and-a-half years after admitting an armed robbery at AK Foodstores, Barnton Place, Glenrothes.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard he leapt over the counter and pressed a knife against the stomach of a female shop assistant.
He made off with £160 from the till, but was caught soon after.
