A courageous World War II veteran last night told how he battled a thief on the doorstep of his home in a sheltered housing complex.
Reg Cambridge, a 91-year-old former commando, spoke out after Alistair Reid was jailed for 20 months at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
Mr Cambridge cut his hand as he tackled Reid, but was able to shut him outside, then call the police while the intruder was targeting his neighbours.
Reid was caught red-handed, but some of the items he stole have never been recovered.
The 33-year-old, of Rossal House, Island Bank Road, Inverness, admitted forcing his way into Mr Cambridge’s home at the city’s Falconer Court on September 11 this year.
He also admitted breaking into a second property in the same sheltered housing complex, followed by a third minutes after.
Mr Cambridge, who served 26 years in the Armed Forces, said he fought off the raider after he was woken by a noise around 1.10am.
“I had been dozing and was in my night clothes and initially thought I heard my doorbell, then thought it can’t be anyone at this time,” he said.
“Then I heard banging, went to the door, and when I looked through the keyhole I saw someone. I thought it was my neighbour who often has trouble opening his door and bangs my door for me to help.”
On this occasion, the cause of the disturbance was Reid, with a can of alcohol in his hand, and Mr Cambridge promptly told the unwelcome visitor to “shove off”.
Instead, he said Reid tried to force his way into the flat, shouting “let me in, let me in,” and attempted to push through the door, which was open by about eight inches.
“Now, I am 91-years-old, and he was obviously a younger man but as he tried to push in, I pushed him back out and finally won the struggle,” said Mr Cambridge.
Having summoned up every inch of strength to send Reid packing, the brave ex-soldier cut his hand in the process and was left with blood all over his clothes.
Despite this, he phoned the police and alerted them but while officers were on their way the intruder was targeting other vulnerable victims.
Reid appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday after previously admitting three charges.
Sentence was deferred at a previous hearing for psychiatric reports to be compiled.
Jailing him, Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist QC said: “These were serious offences, targeting vulnerable individuals for financial gain.
“The medical opinion is clear that the driving force was substance abuse and that your mental disorder was not a significant factor in your behaviour.”
The sheriff also ruled that Reid should be detained initially at New Craigs Hospital in Inverness for treatment for a personality disorder.
Andrew McIntyre, procurator fiscal for sheriff and jury cases in the north of Scotland, welcomed the sentence last night.
He said: “Alistair Reid deliberately targeted victims living in a sheltered housing complex, showing a disregard for the devastating effect such crimes can have on victims’ sense of security in their own home.
“I would like to assure the public that the procurator fiscal is determined to ensure that those who commit such crimes are brought swiftly to justice.”
