A knife-carrying thief who broke into an Aberdeen home in a “terrifying episode” only to be tackled by his victim has been jailed for more than two years.
Charles Skinner, 42, fled having taken a haul of electrical gear worth over £500 and a handbag from an address in the city’s Crimon Place.
He was pursued by homeowner Kieran MacPhee, however, and though he had apparently managed to hide the stolen items, he was soon apprehended.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that Skinner – who appeared via video link – was fuelled by drink and drugs when he entered the city centre property in November last year.
Mr MacPhee lived at the Crimon Place flat with his partner Victoria Smith and her son.
Fiscal depute Katy Begg said: “At about 2.50am, Mr MacPhee and Ms Smith were awoken by a noise on the stairs.
“Mr MacPhee got out of bed to check what the noise was and noticed that both doors to the bedrooms were open, which he found strange.
“As he switched on the bathroom light, he heard the accused run from the landing to the stairs.
“Mr MacPhee chased after the accused and restrained him to the ground, while Ms Smith called the police.
“When the police arrived they found a Stanley knife at the bottom of the stairs.”
She said the blade did not belong to the homeowners.
Skinner had managed to make off with a Playstation 4, an iPhone 7, and Google speaker, a hard drive, alongside a handbag and purse and the keys for the property.
The electronics stolen by Skinner were later recovered by Mr MacPhee, minutes from his home, after he used the “Find My” app, but the handbag and its contents were never discovered.
Skinner’s lawyer, Tony Burgess, said his client had been under the influence of “alcohol and drugs” at the time of the break-in and had been carrying the Stanley knife due to “concerns about his personal safety”.
He also claimed that Skinner had received an “extremely battered face” as a result of his struggle with Mr MacPhee.
Sheriff William Summers described the break-in as a “horrifying incident” for the victims.
He told Skinner: “This episode must have been quite terrifying for them.
“You have a raft of previous convictions and I must take that into account when sentencing you.”
Skinner, whose address was given as HMP Grampian, admitted theft by housebreaking and possession of a Stanley knife and was sentenced to 27 months in prison, backdated to November 19.
