A drug addict who was found in a couple’s home trying to steal an Ipod has been jailed.
Ian Bonnyman was caught red handed sneaking through Mr and Mrs Brian Boyd’s house on Thursday in search of something to steal.
The 34-year-old serial offender had claimed he was there to hand out leaflets when Mrs Boyd saw his reflection on a pane of glass and went to confront him.
However the 54-year-old noticed that Bonnyman was holding her husband’s Ipod in his hand and grabbed the would-be thief before shouting for her husband to come and help.
Then the pair restrained Bonnyman and held him until the police arrived.
Yesterday the drug addict appeared from custody at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted entering the Boyd’s home in Viewfield Road, Aberdeen, and picking up the device with the intent to steal it.
The court heard Bonnyman, who has a “very lengthy” record for crimes of dishonesty, entered the house through an unlocked door.
Representing Bonnyman solicitor Shane Campbell said there had been no preplanning and it was merely an opportunistic crime as he had no idea whose house he was entering.
He did accept however that this would have been a particularly frightening experience for the couple.
The court heard that unbeknown to Bonnyman, Mr Boyd was a volunteer at The Lighthouse Support Centre, a charity that supports drug users and ex-offenders in Aberdeen.
Mr Campbell said ironically his client’s father had approached Mr Boyd, a retired policeman, and asked him if he would be willing to help his son through his recovery weeks before he committed this offence.
Mr Campbell said it was unlikely, given what the couple had just experienced, that Mr Boyd would be willing to help Bonnyman now.
Sentencing the repeat offender, of 11 Mastrick Land, Aberdeen, Sheriff Kenneth Stewart said there was no alternative other than to send him to jail as the incident must have been terrifying for the couple involved.
He said: “You have a very bad record, I accept that’s because of your addiction, but it must have been terrifying, at least for Mrs Boyd. In my view there is no alternative to a custodial sentence.”
Bonnyman was sentenced to four months in prison.