Childhood problems led a Perth man to steal £80,000-worth of cars from a city dealership, a court has heard.
Ian Fowler, 36, broke into Cameron Motors on Perth’s Motor Mile and took three vehicles, including a brand new Volkswagen Touareg and a customer’s Volkswagen Golf that was in for an MOT.
He then dumped them in nearby Gowans Terrace before going back for more.
His solicitor told Perth Sheriff Court on Thursday that the theft had been sparked by issues stemming from when Fowler was a baby.
David Holmes said: “He had been on the At Risk register from the age of one. There is some suggestion that the times he felt most at ease was when he was in a motor vehicle.
“On this occasion, it seems he had taken some Valium tablets and that is possibly what made him act in the way he did.”
The court heard Fowler was spotted acting suspiciously by a local resident.
They watched as he dumped a carrier bag in a bin and, upon further investigation, discovered it contained nine sets of car keys.
These were taken to the police station and officers alerted staff at Cameron Motors.
After arriving at the premises, they found that two side doors were open and wiring had been pulled out of the alarm.
Depute fiscal Carol Whyte said: “The accounts manager was asked to check her office. She found that the safe had been opened using the key, which had been stored in an unsecure desk drawer.
“She was able to establish that the company credit card and chequebook had been stolen, as well as the petty cash box and two ceramic money boxes.”
The accused was identified using CCTV footage and later traced.
Fowler, described as a prisoner at HMP Perth, admitted that between June 1 and 2, he broke into the a car showroom at Dunkeld Road and stole two money tins, £448.47 in cash, a cheque book, a credit card, two MOT testing cards, a card reader, two ornamental money boxes, 15 sets of keys, an unregistered Touareg, a Golf and a Vauxhall Insignia.
He also admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance.
Fowler who has 65 previous convictions, including at least 67 motoring charges was jailed for two years and four months for the theft and banned for 15 years for the driving offences.
Sheriff Michael Fletcher said: “Your record is extremely extensive for crimes of this kind and the value of the vehicles you removed from the premises was very considerable.
“You were doing so knowing you were disqualified and knowing that these vehicles were valuable. A custodial sentence is inevitable.”
Appearing alongside Fowler was Jason Fowler, who admitted stealing drills worth £340. The 31-year-old, described as a prisoner at HMP Perth, broke into Sidey’s premises at Feus Road on May 15 and took the electric tools.
He was jailed for six months.