A thief who stole a children’s bicycle from an Aberdeen garden was caught after its owner posted video of the incident on social media.
James Davidson, 33, helped himself to the mountain bike from a garden on Kettlehills Road on April 12 but didn’t realise he was being filmed.
In a crime spree branded “disgraceful”, Davidson also racially abused and threatened to kill a shop worker in a Londis store, shoplifted aftershave from Semichem, and made offensive sexual comments to police.
‘Accused picked up an Easter Egg and threw it down an aisle’
Fiscal depute Kirsty Martin told Aberdeen Sheriff Court Davidson entered the Londis store on George Street around 9.30pm on April 7.
When a member of staff told him he was banned and asked him to leave, Davidson began to shout and swear and used a racially offensive term.
He warned: “I’m going to break your shop.”
Ms Martin said: “The accused picked up an Easter Egg and threw it down an aisle.”
The employee then phoned the police and Davidson left. The worker followed him out of the store and was then subjected to more abuse and racial language.
Davidson said he would “destroy the shop” and “kill him”.
‘These are disgraceful offences’
On April 8, Davidson stole £54.97 worth of aftershave from Semichem on Greenfern Place in Aberdeen which was not recovered.
On April 12, the owner of a blue and pink children’s mountain bike noticed it was missing from their garden on Kettlehills Road in Aberdeen.
They checked CCTV and saw a man steal it.
Ms Martin told the court: “The witness posted the video on social media and it was suggested to him it was the accused.
“The accused was seen riding the bike past a school and police were contacted.”
Davidson was traced and arrested on April 16 and told officers where they could find the bike, which had been bought second-hand for £60-80.
But while at Kittybrewster station he began to shout, swear and make offensive, threatening and sexual comments.
‘You have been subject to virtually every conceivable disposal’
Davidson, of Smithfield Gardens, Aberdeen, admitted shoplifting, theft, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and acting in a racially aggravated manner.
Defence agent David Sutherland said: “Mr Davidson described his own behaviour as embarrassing and shocking. That, I suspect, must relate to every one of the numerous convictions he has.”
Mr Sutherland suggested a court-ordered social work report showed “glimmers of hope” for his client.
Sheriff William Summers told Davidson: “These are disgraceful offences, committed against the backdrop of you having a shocking record of previous convictions, many of which are directly analogous.
“You have been subject to virtually every conceivable disposal, including custody, and thus far none of them seem to have worked.
“On balance, and because of the time you have spent on remand, I’m satisfied I can sensibly deal with this other than by simply sending you back to jail.”
As a direct alternative to custody, the sheriff ordered Davidson to be supervised for 12 months, complete 100 hours of unpaid work and be the subject of a curfew for three months.
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