A SERIAL offender who broke into Forfar’s dilapidated Royal Hotel has been jailed for eight months.
William Smith went on a tablets and alcohol binge after falling out with his girlfriend, then climbed into the boarded-up town centre property in a theft attempt which led to a major police turnout.
The response included a tracker dog, which sniffed out the 27-year-old hiding among a pile of mattresses as he tried to evade capture.
Smith (27) of Glenmoy Terrace, Forfar, who has more than 50 previous convictions, admitted breaking into the Castle Street premises on February 8 with intent to steal when he appeared from custody at the town’s sheriff court.
The court heard the accused was spotted trying to climb out of an upper floor window after an earlier report that the window was open. However, when he was spotted by police he disappeared back inside the building.
The hotel, which has lain empty since it was closed in 2010, was surrounded and a search carried out.
A police dog team tracked Smith down in one of the rooms, but he was uncooperative with officers.
Defence solicitor Grant Bruce said: “He understands the predicament he finds himself in and knows he will receive a custodial sentence.”
Sheriff Kevin Veal said: “It’s a matter of concern that he is subject to an unexpired portion of a previous sentence and this offence was committed one day after being granted bail 52 previous convictions is a disgraceful record.
“I don’t see any prospect of a community-based disposal and prison has the wider benefit that the local community is given a respite from his criminal activities.”
The sheriff ordered Smith to serve 30 days of his unexpired sentence and a consecutive seven-month period for the hotel break in.