A dad who went on a crime spree in a desperate attempt to repay the benefits he splashed on Christmas presents has been jailed.
Thomas MacDonald was paid £3,500 in housing benefit, but instead of handing it over to his landlord he “stupidly” spent it on gifts for his disabled little boy and girlfriend.
When his landlord found out, he warned the 23-year-old he had to come up with the money – or face being evicted.
Desperate to come up with the cash, MacDonald went on a stealing spree, targeting addresses in Inverurie and Aberdeen on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The father-of-one admitted four charges when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday – after pleading guilty to a string of other thefts the day before.
The court heard that despite being granted bail after his first appearance on Wednesday, he had not even left the building before being arrested again once police realised the second set of thefts were part of the same chain of events.
MacDonald stole a bike and vouchers as well as taking items from an unlocked car.
He also stole goods from the Banks of Ury Hotel in Inverurie, before raiding an unlocked car.
Defence agent Iain Hingston told the court yesterday that MacDonald had a difficult family life, as his 14-month-old son had been born prematurely, with a heart defect and a disability – resulting in extended stays in hospital in Glasgow.
He told the court his client got carried away when he was given so much cash just before Christmas.
Mr Hingston said: “In one of his regular crass acts of stupidity, but with some nobility, he spent £3,500 on presents for his son and partner. The temptation was too high – the money was there, that led to an instant chain reaction.
“The landlord wanted the money – £2,395 – due to him by the end of December. First he said he would be evicted, second that he would be sued and thirdly that the council would be unlikely to consider him from being housed because of how he treated the housing benefit.
“MacDonald reverted to a problem he previously had with misuse of Valium and got himself worked up, having visions of his son being homeless at Christmas.
“He committed a gross series of offences all with a view of getting property that had a saleable value to get money to the landlord.”
At the earlier hearing on Wednesday, Macdonald admitted stealing a Suzuki Vitara on Christmas Eve from the Hilton Treetops Hotel in Aberdeen, and driving it around the north-east while disqualified and without insurance. It was later recovered in the Inverurie area.
On Christmas Day, he forced his way into a locked car parked at Rubislaw Square before stealing a sat-nav device and a handbag.
On December 27, MacDonald got into an insecure vehicle on Burnside Road, Aberdeen and stole a number of Christmas cards. He was later caught out while attempting to steal property from an address on Balbithan View, Kinmuck.
The repeat offender also admitted stealing a bike from another address on the same street that nigh, as well as items from a car on High Street, Inverurie.
Mr Hingston told the court yesterday: “He recognises there is no credible alternative but a custodial disposal.
“He is going to have to come out and somehow get control of his life.
“He is always contrite – sometimes for show, to pull the wool over the eyes, but I think today it is genuine.”
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin jailed MacDonald, of no fixed abode, for eight months and told him all the offences were part of a “course of conduct”. She also banned him from driving for four years.
