COURT: Inverness addict given another chance following city hotel theft

A homeless man who broke into an Inverness pub and hotel and stole a staff member’s bank card has been allowed to continue with a support and rehabilitation programme he was already on.

Dean Barclay had been previously jailed for 16 months at Inverness Sheriff Court, followed by an eight month supervised release order.

His solicitor advocate, Neil Wilson, told Inverness Sheriff Court this week: “Somewhat surprisingly, despite being on supervision, he was leading a chaotic, drug-fuelled lifestyle – at least he was being honest about that.

“The order was not working.

“He did his best but it was not good enough.”

However, Mr Wilson was also able to tell Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald that his client was now getting support and help from a programme called Gateway and was “doing better” than he had been previously.

He produced a letter from the programme concerning his client’s progress for the sheriff to read.

She told 33-year-old Barclay, who admitted breaching the terms of his supervised release order: “I could send you to prison for a short time – the supervised release order had a purpose and you breached it – or I could let you get on with your life, as the letter from Gateway is a very good letter.”

On the basis of what she had heard and read she decided against punishing Barclay for breaching the supervision order.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard previously that Barclay had a bad record for similar offences such as the theft but had shown contrition for his actions on this occasion by pleading guilty to his offences as early as possible in the legal process.

The court had been told that the drug addict had been made homeless, having been thrown out of his supported accommodation in Union Street in Inverness just before committing the theft.

He went to the King’s Highway in nearby Church Street in the early hours of February 22 this year and forced his way in to the building.

Once inside he found the employee’s jacket in the reception area and took a bank card from the man’s wallet.

The night porter returned and ordered him out off the building before calling the police, fiscal depute Robert Weir said.

Barclay was identified as a result of being captured on city centre CCTV and was traced later that morning to a nearby coffee shop.

He was arrested and, having been detained, was twice asked by police officers if he had any sharp objects in his possession.

He denied having any such items, but a later search of his person revealed he in fact had a red knife attached to a lanyard round his neck.

Barclay admitted committing theft by housebreaking.

He also pleaded guilty to endangering the safety of two police officers by failing to disclose that he had a knife in his possession before they searched him.

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