Police caught a pair of hapless thieves stealing copper from an NHS property in Angus.
Dundee men Marti Boi Stewart, 22, and Paul Rylance, 43, were found at the doors of NHS Tayside’s mothballed IT training centre in Monifieth after they stole £3,000 worth of copper wiring and pipes from inside.
The pair were due to stand trial for the June 9 offence but tendered guilty pleas at Forfar Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
Depute fiscal Muhammad Sadiq said: “The locus is at the IT training centre owned by NHS Tayside in Monifieth, which I understand has been vacant for a year.
“At 12.10am on June 9 a security officer contacted the police in relation to an alarm that had gone off.
“The police then attended with a dog unit and they found both accused standing directly behind the doors at the centre.
“They had on gloves, dust masks and had a hacksaw, crowbar, and torches.
“A search later revealed a quantity of copper wires and pipes had been removed.”
Stewart and Rylance were cautioned and charged and made no reply.
Mr Sadiq said the amount of wiring and pipe removed was valued at around £3,000.
Stewart was represented by solicitor Kevin Hampton and Rylance’s defence agent Mr Kenny said: “I think your lordship will look to defer sentence for reports due to the nature of the offence.”
Previous convictions were admitted for both accused.
Deferring sentence to October 9, Sheriff Gregor Murray said: “I’ll seek criminal justice social work reports in respect of both accused and bail will be continued in the meantime.”
Rylance, of St Fillans Road, and Stewart, of St Nicholas Place, pleaded guilty to entering the NHS Tayside IT training centre in Monifieth at 1 Victoria Street and stealing a quantity of copper piping.
The charge was originally one of breaking in to the building, but pleas to an amended charge were accepted by the Crown.
Stewart further admitted committing the offence on bail, which was granted on January 23 year at Dundee Sheriff Court.