Ex-rugby player stole ice cream and biscuits from Inverness shop
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A former rugby player who turned to drugs and crime after his career was cut short by a leg injury moved to Inverness to "make a fresh start".
But Mark Bird, who pursued his sporting career mostly in Wales, fell back into his old ways in the Highlands and went shoplifting after taking valium.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that the 43-year-old had gone into a store in Lochalsh Road on January 16, 2024 from where he had been previously banned.
Fiscal depute Alison Young told Sheriff Sara Matheson that Bird had begun shouting at one member of staff before leaving. However it was not before he had taken ice cream, biscuits and other goods worth over £30.
Police had been called and he was quickly arrested and taken to Burnett Road Police Station.
"Officers found a Stanley knife and a wrap containing 0.3 grams of cocaine," Mrs Young said.
But when Bird informed police that he had also swallowed 1.5 grams of crack cocaine he had to be taken to hospital for treatment.
Defending, solicitor advocate Shahid Latif said: "He was hungry. He was staying with an acquaintance and his landlord said he wanted more money from him because energy costs had gone up.
"He only had £36 from his fortnightly benefits left which wasn't enough for his phone, tobacco and food. The offence was doomed to fail right from the start. He was taking valium from the 13th to the 15th and does not have a clear recollection.
"He had been decorating for a friend and forgot the Stanley knife was in his jacket. He had been a talented rugby player but suffered a serious leg injury and he turned to intoxicants. He moved to Inverness to start afresh."
Bird, described as an Inverness prisoner, was jailed for a year backdated to January 17, 2024.
