A homeless man who brazenly shoplifted alcohol before vandalising a cashpoint outside the store intentionally drew police attention to secure accommodation, a court has heard.
Arkadiusz Ladcki, 49, picked up cans of alcohol from a shelf in the Spar Store and began to drink one in front of the shop staff.
When they told him to stop, he left without paying, before launching an attack on the ATM with a dog lead.
Ladcki appeared via videolink at Inverness Sheriff Court to plead guilty to charges of shoplifting and malicious mischief relating to the incident on October 2 of this year.
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh said at around 11.45am Ladcki entered the shop on Thornbush Road in Inverness and picked up two cans of alcohol from the shelf.
“He began to drink one of the cans, was challenged and asked to not drink in the shop,” she said.
“In response, he continued to drink one of the cans and left without making any attempt to pay for them.”
After leaving the store, Ladcki launched an attack on the cashpoint outside.
Man attacked ATM with dog lead
“It was observed via CCTV that the accused has taken a dog lead and started to swing it above his head and started to hit the ATM located outside the shop a number of times,” Ms Duffy-Welsh said.
The attack damaged the machine and made a hole in a panel next to the buttons.
Police were contacted and Ladcki was cautioned, charged and taken into custody.
Ladcki’s solicitor Rory Gowans said his client was homeless and often committed crimes in order to get a roof over his head.
‘He brings himself to the attention of police’
He said: “Often when he finds himself in situations such as that – when he is homeless and penniless – he brings himself to the attention of the police in order that accommodation can be provided for him because he is of no fixed abode.”
Mr Gowans added that his client was unsure if this had been his intention on this occasion as he had been drinking.
“He fully accepts his conduct and has pled guilty accordingly,” said Mr Gowans.
He told the court that Ladcki had secured an offer of employment with associated accommodation from the brother of a man he had met in prison, which would be available to him immediately on his release.
He said: “For the first time in a long time he has a plan – that plan includes employment and accommodation,” adding that his client had pledged: “This will be his last ever case.”
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank called for reports and remanded Ladcki meantime.
The case will call again next month.
