Homeless man stole bank card from Inverness hotel and pub
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A homeless man broke into an Inverness pub and hotel and stole a staff member's bank card.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 33-year-old Dean Barclay had been thrown out of his supported accommodation in the city's Union Street just beforehand.
Barclay went to the King's Highway in nearby Church Street in the early hours of February 22 and forced his way in to the building where he found the employee's jacket in the reception area.
He took a bank card from the man's wallet but the night porter returned and ordered him out of the building before calling the police, fiscal depute Robert Weir said.
Barclay had been filmed on CCTV and was traced later that morning in a nearby coffee shop.
He was arrested and was twice asked by police if he had any sharp objects in his possession. He denied this but a later search uncovered a red knife attached to a lanyard round his neck.
Barclay admitted theft by housebreaking and endangering the safety of two police officers by failing to disclose he had a knife in his possession.
Defence solicitor Neil Wilson told Sheriff Gary Aitken: "He is a drug user and thought the police were asking him if he had 'sharps' which is a colloquial description for needles.
"When he was under supervision from his last jail sentence he was clean of drugs within two months, but reverted back into drug use again when that supervision ended. He is hoping that a background report may result in a different outcome for him other than custody.
"But I have made it clear he could be jailed today."
Sheriff Aitken agreed to defer sentence for a report until May 21, but warned Barclay that, because of his record, jail was a likely outcome.
Barclay was again remanded in custody.
