A heartless thief has been locked up after he attacked a carer and robbed a disabled man.
Charles Skinner appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday after he admitted the charges at a previous hearing.
The court heard the 36-year-old was trying doors in John Barbour Court in the Old Aberdeen area of the city on the evening of May 11 when he found one that was unlocked.
Skinner, whose address was given as HMP Grampian, entered the flat and headed for the bedroom where he lifted a £300 laptop, mobile phone and charger and wallet.
What he did not realise was that the householder – a 21-year-old man who suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Asperger’s syndrome – and Murray Keir, a Capability Scotland carer, were in the living room.
When he heard the commotion in the next room, Mr Keir went across the hall and saw Skinner trying to hide the laptop under his jumper.
Mr Keir then grabbed the device and asked for the wallet back while the householder called the police.
It was at this moment that the incident spilled over into violence and Skinner punched Mr Keir repeatedly to the head and body.
Solicitor John Ferrie told the court Skinner was “a sneak thief” who spent his days wandering the streets looking for opportunities to steal after taking valium and other drugs to give him the confidence to walk into people’s homes.
He said that when his client learned the householder had learning difficulties he was “totally ashamed” of his actions.
Mr Ferris added that Skinner had a long record of offending but his crimes had only become serious in nature following the death of his grandmother.
He also stressed that Skinner was a completely different person when he was sober and had never raised his voice or acted aggressively in their meetings.
Sentencing Skinner to 21 months in prison, Sheriff Annella Cowan branded his actions “despicable”.
Sheriff Skinner added: “I hear what has been said on your behalf about you not being aware the person in the flat had difficulties, on the other hand I don’t believe it would have made much difference to you.”