A drunken man was found on his knees, surrounded by handbags and hitting a door with a ceramic garden ornament, before stealing a plant when challenged.
Confused residents came across the bizarre scene involving Donnie Heanan outside an address on Rowan Road in Aberdeen just before 7am on March 2.
The court was told 34-year-old Heanan’s drink session had started the day before and followed his release from a previous prison sentence.
And some witnesses even gave chase as Heanan helped himself to a potted plant and made off.
‘Bizarre conduct’
Fiscal depute Karen Dow told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened around 6.50am on March 2.
She said: “A witness left heir home address and saw the accused on his knees outside the front door at the locus, striking a lower glass window with a ceramic garden ornament.”
She said the ornament was broken and was marking the door.
The court heard Heanan was “surrounded by handbags”, seemingly emptied out of a nearby carrier bag.
Other witnesses also saw what was happening and police were contacted.
Ms Dow said Heanan then entered a neighbouring garden, where he found a potted plant.
‘Alcohol is a significant issue for Mr Heanan’
She said: “He proceeded to pull the plant from the soil and walk out of the garden and across the road.”
Heanan was “pursued” by various witnesses before the police arrived at 7.10am and arrested him.
Heanan, of Wellington Place, Aberdeen, pled guilty to charges of malicious mischief, by damaging the door with the ornament and emptying a bag onto the ground, and theft of the plant.
Defence agent Neil McRobert said: “Alcohol is a significant issue for Mr Heanan and continues to be so.
“He’d been released from his last prison sentence the day before this.
“It would appear en route to Aberdeen he consumed alcohol.”
Mr McRobert said his client had then continued to drink in Aberdeen, resulting in the “bizarre conduct”.
He said Heanan had no recollection of the events due to his drunkenness.
Sheriff Neil Kinnear ordered Heanan to complete 60 hours of unpaid work and be supervised for 12 months.
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