Inverness drug user broke into city hostel

A DRUG user who beat his habit relapsed after being given an illegal tablet, Inverness Sheriff Court has heard.

Warren Maclean, described as an Inverness prisoner, broke into student hostel accommodation in the city’s Culduthel Road between September 19 and 20, with intent to steal.

He admitted the offence and also pleaded guilty to possessing a pair of scissors without reasonable excuse.

Sentence was deferred until January 14 for a background report and restriction of liberty and drug treatment and testing order assessments.

Sheriff Sara Matheson was told that Maclean had moved to Aberdeen but returned to Inverness when he was in danger of being lured back into drugs.

Solicitor advocate Shahid Latif said that Maclean, who admitted a long list of previous convictions, had remained drug free from March to September, but after returning to Inverness was given a Xanax tablet, which is not prescribed in this country.

Mr Latif told Sheriff Matheson: “You can join the dots after that.”

The court was told the caretaker at the hostel, which was unoccupied at the time, locked up on September 19 and turned off the lights. She went back later that evening and saw the lights were on.

Further investigation revealed a safe was open and items had been moved.

Police investigated and found no one. However later, while the caretaker and a friend were in the property, they heard a noise and discovered Maclean standing in the living room.