A once-respected joiner who forced his way into a Highland Perthshire church and made off with cash from four charity boxes has narrowly avoided jail.
Steven Lockhart was confronted by a member of the congregation after breaking into the St Brides Roman Catholic building in Pitlochry.
The 48-year-old was caught on CCTV walking away with handfuls of charity cash.
He appeared at Perth Sheriff Court last month and admitted raiding the Rie-Achan Road place of worship on February 13, 2020.
Returning to the dock for sentencing, Lockhart, of Glasgow Road, Edinburgh, was handed a community payback order.
‘Wheels came off’ with heroin use
His solicitor said Lockhart had worked hard to becoming a finishing joiner but his career was cut short by a devastating wrist injury.
“He had a very good reputation in the industry,” the lawyer said.
“After his accident, he was off work for some time.
“He suffered significant pain and he turned to street drugs to assist him with that pain.
“One day he took heroin and that’s when the wheels came off.”
The solicitor said: “He has lost his business, his family and his home.”
Lockhart became drug free during lockdown.
‘Despicable act’
Sheriff William Wood said: “You have clearly had a hard time since you qualified as a joiner.
“You have had misfortune but you have to accept that your current issues are all yours.
“You are the one who put yourself in the dock.”
The sheriff told Lockhart: “This was quite a despicable act.
“You say you went to the church to light a candle for a deceased friend but what you did was reprehensible and I am satisfied the custody threshold has been breached.”
But Sheriff Wood noted Lockhart had stayed out of trouble since the offence.
“Because of that I am prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt.”
Lockhart was ordered to carry out 262 hours of unpaid work and warned if he breached the order, he could be jailed.
DNA discovery
The court was previously told a witness heard banging coming from inside the Pitlochry church and went to the priest’s home next door to view CCTV.
Lockhart was spotted walking down the driveway so she approached and spoke to him and, having discovered the theft of around £100, was later able to give his description to police.
Lockhart’s DNA was recovered from one of the charity boxes.
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