An ex-Edinburgh rugby player has been found shoplifting just a short time after being released from prison for robbery.
Kenneth Blyth, 36, had recently served a three year sentence after raiding a women's home in East Lothian armed with knives, leaving her "extremely distressed".
Blyth and an accomplice had broke into the home in 2017 by smashing through the front door, and proceeded to take a host of high value items including jewelry, money and drugs.
Three years later, Blyth appeared at the Edinburgh Sheriff Court again after he was caught shoplifting in December 2019, reports the Daily Record.
After being released from prison, Blyth's lawyer stated that he had been left homeless, and had stolen a series of toiletries to "keep himself clean".
Blyth appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday (FRI) and admitted stealing items including toiletries from a Scotmid in the city’s Gorgie Road last December 23.
Fiscal depute Miriam Clark said the stolen items were worth around £20.
The rugby star had played semi-professional for Edinburgh Accies before a serious knee injury had ruined his chances of a sporting career.
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Tony Lenehan, counsel for Blyth in the case, said: “He played rugby at a high level, reaching the stage of semi-professional.”
Mr Lenehan added that a knee injury Blyth suffered in 2009 effectively ended his sporting career and he was prescribed an opiate based painkiller. He said when doctors realised there was a problem with this, Blyth was given methadone.
Defence agent Edward Cadden said Blyth had found himself homeless following his release from jail but now has a “stable” address.
Sheriff Adrian Cottam fined Blyth, of the city’s Dumbiedykes area, £190.
