A thief with a record for crimes of dishonesty who nicked items from an unlocked car in a Stirling street was this week jailed.
Stirling Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday that 28-year-old Kevin Dudgeon, of Colquhoun Street, had been serving an unexpired portion of a 22-month sentence for housebreaking when he carried out the theft in Nelson Place on April 29 this year.
Dudgeon had admitted a charge of entering an insecure car and stealing a multi-tool, a cleaning kit and a hunting knife.
Fiscal depute Robbie McDougall told the court on Wednesday that a Nelson Street resident had seen the accused rummaging within the passenger side of the vehicle at 4pm on Thursday April 29.
The owner of the car was his neighbour and Dudgeon’s actions gave the witness cause for concern.
When the accused left the car and walked down the street the witness caught up with him and asked him if the car was his. Dudgeon said it was, but the witness was again asked if it was his property to which he replied ‘no’.
Mr McDougall said Dudgeon was also asked if the items in his hand belonged to him and he replied that they did not.
The accused walked back with the witness to confirm with the neighbour the property in the car, said the fiscal depute, which amounted to £100.
When later cautioned and charged Dudgeon said: ‘Sorry. I will send a letter apologising’.
His agent Virgil Crawford told Sheriff Wyllie Robertson that Dudgeon had been under the influence of alcohol and “other substances” at the time.
The items had been recovered and Dudgeon had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Mr Crawford pointed out that Dudgeon had a difficult upbringing as his mother had died when he was young.
Dudgeon had also served a number of custodial sentences for matters of dishonesty.
However, the lawyer said that despite a recent assault he was suitable for unpaid work.
Sheriff Robertson told Dugeon he had a bad record for offences of dishonesty – and the last one on his record had resulted in a 22-month sentence for housebreaking.
At the time the Nelson Place theft occurred, added the sheriff, Dudgeon had still been serving part of an unexpired portion of this sentence.
He ordered that Dudgeon be returned to prison to serve 50 days of the outstanding term to be followed by eight months imprisonment on the charge before the court.
