Twenty months for thief who targeted vulnerable in Inverness
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An Inverness man who carried out a series of raids on the homes of vulnerable people within a few hours of each other has was sentenced to 20 months in custody at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Alistair Reid, (33), of Rossal House, Island Bank Road, Inverness appeared from custody on indictment at Inverness Sheriff Court last month and admitted three charges.
Reid pleaded guilty to forcing entry into 91 year old Reginald Cambridge’s sheltered house in Falconer Court, Inverness at 1am on September 11 this year with intent to steal. Mr Cambridge was injured as a result.
Four and a half hours later, Reid admitted breaking into 60 year old Alexander Grant’s home also in Falconer Court and stealing jewellery, a wallet containing £50 and a mobile phone.
Thirty minutes after that break-in, Reid admitted breaking into 68 year old Barry Mercado’s home also in Falconer Court and stealing two bank cards.
The court heard that Mr Grant had phoned the police who were on their way to his property when Mr Mercado alerted them to an intruder in his home.
Reid was caught red-handed by officers who found him still in the property.
However the wallet, cash and mobile phone were never recovered.
Michelle Molley depute fiscal said Mr Cambridge had prevented Reid from getting into his house by pushing the door shut and injured his hand in the process.
"He had been asleep in his bed and was wakened by a banging on his front door. Police attended within 15 minutes but there was no trace of Reid,
"Mr Grant was also asleep when he wakened to find Reid in his home. Reid made good his escape and Mr Grant discovered his wallet with £50 cash, two bank cards, two watches and a mobile phone he required for emergencies were missing.
"Half an hour later, Mr Mercado was wakened by banging on his window and saw Reid in his garden. He ran out to a neighbour’s house where the police were contacted. But officers were already on their way to the previous incident and Reid was caught red-handed still with some of the property."
On Tuesday when Reid appeared for sentence Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist was told by defence solicitor Duncan Henderson psychiatric reports were available and he asked, whatever the sentence was, for Reid to be allowed to continue his treatment.
He said Reid had a personality disorder which was complicated by him taking drugs rather than prescribed medication.
Sheriff Gilchrist said: "It’s clear this was a serious offence involving the targeting of vulnerable individuals for financial gain."
He added that a doctor’s report found the mental disorder was not a significant factor in Reid’s behaviour.
The Sheriff said there was a recommendation that he should make a direction that Reid is required to be detained at New Craigs for treatment of a schizo-affective disorder.
He sentenced him to 20 months and made an order he should be detained for treatment at New Craigs.
