A homeless man embarked on a 15-month-long crime spree across Inverness to fund his drug addiction, a court has heard.
Liam Macdonald admitted all the offences, including three charges of fraud, two of theft, four of shoplifting and one bail breach.
He appeared by video link at Inverness Sheriff Court after being remanded in custody last week.
His defence solicitor, Ken Ferguson, told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank that his client had been addicted to drugs “for a number of years”.
Mr Ferguson added: “He has reached the stage in life that he would wish to be assessed for a drug treatment and testing order assessment”.
Fraudster tricked a bank teller
The 32-year-old fraudster began his offending in Inverness on July 10 2021, when he pretended to be another person and obtained £75 from a Bank of Scotland teller.
There was a spell when his offending in the city stopped but he resumed his dishonest lifestyle in the Highland capital on February 6 this year.
He found a bank card in the city centre and used it at the BP garage on Longman Road.
Macdonald also used the card at the WH Smith’s in the railway station to pay for goods, including tobacco and scratch cards totalling £97.99.
On June 12 this year, police arrested Macdonald on other matters.
During a search of him at Burnett Road police station, officers found a small quantity of the Class C drug Bromazolam.
Serial shoplifting
On June 16 2022, Macdonald stole a mobile phone at Weatherspoons in Inverness.
A week later, he shoplifted at the Smyths toy store, where he stole headphones and other radio communication devices.
Then three days later, on June 19, he stole alcohol, razor blades and confectionery from the Montague Row Spar store and the Co-op in Church Street.
But Macdonald’s thieving days ended on October 25 this year, when he was arrested for stealing clothing from Primark in Bridge Street.
Sentence was deferred until December 1 2022 for the initial drug treatment and testing order assessment to be carried out.
He was again remanded in custody, but if he is deemed suitable for such an order, he will be released on bail for the second stage to be completed.
