A thief launched a desperate getaway bid after being caught raiding a Moray flat by leaping 10 feet from a first-floor window to the ground.
Wojciech Markuszewski made an ill-judged attempt to ransack a property above Dino’s Pizza and Kebab House in Buckie last June.
When workers below heard the commotion, they investigated and discovered the 46-year-old roaming the premises.
They locked a door leading from the flat so that Markuszewski could not flee before police officers arrived.
But, having been rumbled, the out-of-work handyman smashed a window – causing £370 of damage – and leapt 10ft to the pavement.
The escape effort failed when he was quickly detained by the takeaway employees and was subsequently arrested.
Markuszewski, of Guildry House in Elgin, admitted stealing items from the flat and recklessly damaging the property by smashing a window when he appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday.
The dramatic scenes unfolded last year on Monday, June 19, at around 11.30pm.
Fiscal Ruaridh McAllister said the upstairs flat belonged to Dino’s proprietor Huseyin Eroglu and was occupied by employees there.
Mr McAllister said that the accused had entered through an unsecured door and when a shop worker returned to the property, he spotted him on the landing.
He added: “Staff managed to lock a back door to prevent Markuszewski from leaving, and, from outside, they could see him moving through various rooms.
“Those in the takeaway could hear banging noises.”
The court heard that Markuszewski then smashed an upstairs bedroom window, and stepped outside it.
Mr McAllister added: “On part of the roof above the takeaway, he was seen carrying a plastic bag with various items inside.
“He was told to stay there until police arrived, but he jumped onto the ground.”
Officers later arrested Markuszewski and found a metal safe containing £90, DVDs and two Lottery scratch cards stolen from the flat inside his bag.
Representing the accused, solictor Matthew O’Neill, said his client had lived in Scotland for 10 years and had largely avoided trouble during that time.
He said: “My client fully accepts this was extremely foolish.”
Sheriff Chris Dickson ordered Markuszewski to remain under supervision for a year, pay Mr Erogru £370 in compensation and perform 200 hours of community service.
