A drug addict has been jailed after stealing from business owners who had previously provided food for him when he was living on the streets.
Christopher Sinclair smashed his way into The Selkie restaurant in May this year.
He was free on bail at the time.
Crack cocaine addict Sinclair used an object to break through the front door of the Exchange Street shop in the early hours of May 5.
The 34-year-old had also broken into a nearby takeaway in February, taking a till with £100 and a case of fizzy juice.
The Selkie owner’s hopes for thief
In a social media post after he was convicted, The Selkie’s owner Kelly-Anne Fairweather said she hoped Sinclair could overcome his addiction problems.
She said: “We as a family have fed (Sinclair) many times.
“We have brought food up to where (he) sits and we have have had a wee chat.
“This gentleman was already in bail and on restriction of liberty for a similar offence.
“While he broke into our shop he was supposed to be home by 7pm.
“I’m so sorry that people are suffering from addiction.
“It’s a disease that kills and destroys families.
“It’s incredibly sad that we pay for the crimes committed but we don’t have a proven strategy to curb the actual disease.
“I lost my aunt four years ago to addiction.
“She is the reason we have a Selkie and the reason we provide meals to anyone who will ask.
“She never stole, never lied and was the kindest human.
“I lost the person who was my best friend to drugs and with her a part of me died too – I really hope and pray this person gets better soon.”
The Selkie thanked members of the community and local businesses for rallying round after the break-in.
Defence solicitor Anika Jethwa previously told Dundee Sheriff Court Sinclair’s problems stem from an addiction to crack cocaine.
She said: “Drugs are his major issue.
“He is in a cycle of drug misuse.
“He has been taking Valium on top of his prescription.
“But it is crack cocaine which has caused serious issues for him.
“His offending happens mostly at night.”
Sinclair admitted breaking into The Selkie on May 5 this year, while on bail and a curfew.
He further admitted breaking into Zango Peri Peri on February 13.
There he stole a till with £100 in it, a container with £15 inside, a delivery bag and some fizzy juice.
Sheriff Alistair Brown sentenced Sinclair, of Dunholm Road, to ten months in prison.
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