A hapless football stadium raider pilfered optics, mixers and dish soap from Montrose FC’s ground.
Brian Stewart was caught the same weekend he broke into Links Park in January.
The 38-year-old caused around £1,000 of damage during his bungled break-in.
He nabbed a pack of Schweppes orange mixer and already-opened bottles of pink gin and Jack Daniels bourbon from the bar.
Although Stewart found the key to the club store, he did not plunder any merchandise and left the key on a hand sanitizer dispenser outside.
He will be sentenced in July after being made subject to a high tariff structured deferred sentence.
Nocturnal raid
Stewart’s raid took place between 10pm on January 19 and 7.15am on January 20.
The League One club were not in action that weekend due to Scottish Cup ties taking place.
Fiscal depute Sam Craib told Forfar Sheriff Court his break-in was uncovered by the club’s groundsman, who arrived at 7.45am on the Friday morning.
He observed evidence of tampering with the serving window.
Inside the stadium, he saw footprints on the boot room door, accessed from the player’s tunnel.
Mr Craib said it appeared as though Stewart had tried to “jimmy the lock.”
After checks were carried out, several items were reported as missing.
A case of 24 Schweppes orange mixers was taken, along with a case of Fairy liquid.
Open bottles of pink gin and Jack Daniels, as well as the optics they were fitted in, were taken.
A cash box was missing and a green bucket on wheels was gone too.
Stewart, of North Street in Montrose, also managed to get his hands on the key to the club store.
But this was recovered sitting on a hand sanitizer dispenser outside.
In the dock
Stewart previously admitted the break-in.
Social work reports had been ordered and Stewart was released on bail but on April 26 this year, he breached a bail curfew and has been remanded since the following day.
Solicitor Keith Sym said: “Clearly this is unacceptable conduct.
“He did plead guilty at the outset.
“There is a suggestion that a community disposal could be a way forward.
“He realises he’s in an endless circle of going in and out of prison.”
Sheriff Garry Sutherland placed Stewart on a high tariff structured deferred sentence.
He will have contact with a social worker at least once a week throughout the deferral, and is due back in court on July 6.
The sheriff said: “I don’t think I need to explain to you what will happen if you don’t comply with that.”
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