A couple have been fined after they broke into a man’s home and stole his television in an “ill-thought-out plan” to claw back money from him.
Matthew Cox, 49, and Vanessa Cox, 35, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted charges of theft by housebreaking.
They jimmied the door of a neighbour on Glenbervie Road, Aberdeen, entered his home and removed his Hitachi television set, his Sky TV box and the assorted cables.
The pair, who also stole aftershave from the man’s bedroom, then tried to sell the items to another neighbour the same day.
Solicitors for the couple claimed that the pair had given the male neighbour cash in “a transaction” that had not seen them receive what they had paid for.
The couple then chose to steal the entertainment system in order to recoup their losses.
Matthew Cox pleaded guilty to theft by housebreaking as well as being in possession of cocaine, while Vanessa Cox admitted theft by housebreaking.
Accused told cops he had bought TV ‘from people for £50’
Fiscal depute Emma McKenzie told the court that a witness reported that Matthew and Vanessa Cox appeared at her door on June 15 last year and attempted to sell her a Hitachi television, but she declined.
Around half an hour later another local man saw the couple carrying the television, cables and a Sky box down Glenbervie Road.
Ms McKenzie said that as the homeowner returned to his property he found that his front door had been “forced” and the lock “appeared to have to have bent”.
She added: “He noticed the television, the Sky box and the associate cables were missing and aftershave was missing from his bedroom.
“He contacted the police and enquiries were made around the local area that identified the two suspects and a search warrant was obtained for their address.
“Officers attended and found the stolen property.
“During this time the accused spontaneously made the admission under caution that he’d got the television ‘from people for £50’.”
‘An ill-thought-out plan to recoup money they had lost’
Defence agent Liam Mcallister told the court that Matthew Cox had acted out of character and had been annoyed that the neighbour hadn’t followed through on the agreed transaction.
He added: “At that time illicit substances had got the better of him, but he is not someone who troubles the court at all and certainly not in this way.”
Kevin Longino, the defence solicitor for Vanessa Cox, described the offence as “an ill-thought-out plan to recoup money that they had lost”.
Sheriff William Summers told the couple: “These offences are perplexing as you have nothing like this on your record – clearly this was an ill-advised adventure.
“I’ve taken account of that, but it does not excuse your behaviour.”
Sheriff Summers fined Matthew Cox, of Glenbervie Road, £420 and Vanessa Cox, of the same address, to £210.
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