News / Young thief presents “a difficult case”
A YOUNG Lerwick man with learning difficulties was described as “a cunning thief” at the town’s sheriff court after he admitted three counts of theft and one breach of bail.
On Thursday 22 year old Ian Mutch pled guilty to breaking into an old man’s house in the village of Aith and stealing £20 from a money box on 30 January while the man was being treated in hospital.
After his arrest in March, Mutch was released on bail and placed under a curfew to stay in his supported accommodation at 12 Arheim every night.
However between 15 and 18 August he breached bail by stealing two ladders from a house in Lerwick’s Upper Sound and using them to break into a neighbouring first floor flat, where he stole a laptop computer and a bank statement while the occupier was away in Aberdeen.
Mutch made matters worse by “shopping himself” by going to Lerwick police station on 1 September having breached his curfew by going down the pub.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said that though Mutch had learning disabilities, he also had “a highly developed sense of cunning”.
He entered the old man’s house by smashing a rear door window to unlock the door, switching off the electricity at the fuse box to avoid accidentally turning on a light and stealing the cash from the man’s bedroom.
And he broke into both properties knowing the occupiers would not be there.
Suspicion in each case swiftly fell on Mutch, who admitted both crimes to his key worker as soon as he was confronted by her.
The fiscal said: “On the one hand he has learning difficulties, but on the other hand he is a very cunning thief…who forces normal, law-abiding people to change their habits to protect their property.”
Defence agent Tommy Allan warned that Mutch may have “enjoyed” his experience behind bars on remand, and there was “a danger of setting him up to get used to custody”.
Sheriff Philip Mann agreed this was “a difficult case” and reimposed the night time curfew order while background reports are prepared for Mutch’s next appearance in court on 10 December.
“People are entitled to be free of the menace you pose to them by breaking into properties…but at the same time I am conscious that imprisonment may not be the best way to keep you on the straight and narrow,” he said.
Warning him he would be jailed if he breached his bail conditions, the sheriff added: “If you do end up in custody you will be the author of your own misfortune.”
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