An Ayr man who stole hundreds of pounds intended for charities was jailed for two years yesterday.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 52 year-old John Taylor had travelled to Kingussie to find work and got a job as a kitchen porter.
But in the early hours during three nights in January and February this year, Taylor scoped out properties in the High Street to raid.
His first break-in was at a hairdressers – “The Wright Style” from where he stole a £110 cash float and around £500 from charity tins on January 26.
Almost a fortnight later, he broke into The Charity Shop, run by Caberfeidh Horizons, on February 7 and stole the till and £100.
But his dishonest spree ended on February 21 when he was confronted by the occupant of a flat in the High Street and frightened off.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart said he was caught soon after with a screwdriver he had used to gain entry. He later told police: “Fair cop, you have caught me.”
He admitted two charges of theft by housebreaking, and an attempted break-in with intent to steal.
His solicitor, Duncan Henderson said his client had stopped taking his psychotic medication, lost his job and was living in homeless accommodation in Kingussie.
He added: “He started drinking too much and things took a downward spiral from there.”
After Sheriff Margaret Neilson told him that a jail sentence was the only alternative given his previous record, Taylor said to her: “I want to say I am truly sorry.”
