A Dundee mum woke up to a man standing in her living room stealing a mobile phone.
Alexander Westwater, 35, a prisoner at Perth prison, was jailed for 15 months for the offence.
He admitted that on June 5, this year, he broke into the house occupied by Samantha Dolan at Turnberry Avenue, and stole a mobile phone.
The court heard that the 29-year-old mother of one had fallen asleep in her living room and woke up to see Westwater standing at a bookcase in the same room.
When she started screaming Westwater walked out the room with the phone through to the kitchen and climbed out the window to get away.
Fiscal depute Nicola Gillespie said: “The mother phoned the police immediately after this happened and numerous units arrived.
“The accused was wearing a black coat with a hood and a cap.
“Police suspected the accused from the description and attended the accused’s home address.
“After police knocked on the door several times they decided to gain forced entry.”
The fiscal depute continued: “The accused was detained and made no reply.
“The mobile phone was eventually recovered by the officers. They found it in the back garden of Turnberry Avenue.”
Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC said: “You broke into a complete stranger’s house in the middle of the night. It must have been an absolutely terrifying experience for the young woman.
“In all the circumstances I have taken into account I will impose a period of custody of 15 months.”
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