A serial Perth thief accused a judge of making him a scapegoat as he was jailed for two and a half years.
Scott Robertson, George Street, shouted out from the dock when Sheriff Fiona Tait jailed him at Perth Sheriff Court.
The 32-year-old was found guilty of stealing around £9,000-worth of items from six different places in Perth between 2010 and 2013.
“Am I a scapegoat? Where’s the rest of them?” he shouted, before telling Sheriff Tait: “You’re wrong.”
Depute fiscal Carol Whyte told the court that Robertson was spotted in June 2010 trying to make off with two suitcases full of copper stolen from the vacant Gilgal Ward at Murray Royal Hospital.
The building had been vacant for around 10 years and the accused, who pleaded guilty to the theft, was seen entering with another man.
Mrs Whyte said: “As with a number of these charges, a former flatmate of the accused was later traced by police, interviewed and confirmed that the accused was responsible for this offence.”
Robertson also pleaded to breaking into the Dine India restaurant on George Street between December 20 2012 and January 8 2013 and stealing furniture, room fittings, ornaments, and electrical equipment valued at £3,175.
He further admitted that on January 10 2013 he broke into Easy Let, Princes Street, and stole a television, valued at £1,000, which was damaged beyond repair; and that he stole £3,485-worth of tools from the building site at Sainsbury’s, High Street, between February 28 and March 1 that year.
He also pleaded guilty to breaking into a fire- damaged house on George Street between March 2 and March 5 2013 and stealing a television, clothing, a holdall, a torch and a number of DVDs, all worth £670.
Robertson also admitted breaking into Ring O’Bells Public House at St John’s Place between March 12 and March 21 2013 and stealing two televisions worth a combined £1,500
Sheriff Fiona Tait said she had no option but to jail Robertson.