A young Lerwick man with learning difficulties was described as a “cunning thief” at the town’s sheriff court after committing three counts of theft and a breach of bail.
Ian Mutch, 22, yesterday admitted breaking into an old man’s house in the village of Aith and stealing £20 from a money box on January 30 while the resident 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, Lerwick, every night.
However, between August 15 and 18 he admitted breaching 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 off the island.
Mutch made matters worse by handing himself in to Lerwick police station on September 1 having breached his curfew by going down the pub.
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 when he was confronted.
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 December 10.