A 41-year-old Inverness man who has been in and out of custody since he was a teenager was jailed for another 10 months yesterday having been jailed for a year last week.
Jason Ryan, of 109 Benula Road, Inverness appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court on a number of housebreaking charges.
But Ryan admitted only one housebreaking and another of breaking into office premises with intent to steal, and the pleas were accepted by fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart.
He said that the property stolen was fully recovered within two hours of the theft being discovered.
Ryan pleaded guilty to breaking into G&A Barnie’s premises in Carsegate Road on October 22 or 23, 2012.
Mr Urquhart said that a window had been broken and police discovered blood on the CD cover on the inner windowsill which DNA analysis proved belonged to Ryan.
Three weeks later, Ryan broke into a house in Swanston Avenue, Inverness on November 15 and stole a TV, a brooch, £40, a rucksack, a handbag, a camera, a jewellery box and quantities of clothing, perfume, cosmetics, jewellery and two pairs of gloves.
He was on bail at the time both offences were committed.
Mr Urquhart added: “Police obtained a warrant on an unrelated matter to search the home of one of Ryan’s associates within two hours of the theft being discovered.
“They found Ryan hiding behind a couch and discovered all the stolen items in the premises.”
Defence solicitor advocate Shahid Latif said his client had told him he intended to give up his life of crime.
He asked Sheriff Margaret Neilson to limit the sentence and added: “He realises he must stop this pattern of offending. He has had a wasted life and from a very young age he has been in and out of detention and custody.
“He has a partner of two and a half years and he tells me he intends to move back in with her when he is released. He has someone to come out to and that is important to him for his road to rehabilitation.
“This is, for him, the start of a different journey.”
Last week, Ryan was jailed for 12 months after admitting assaulting and robbing a member of staff at a city corner shop with father of six Clinton Reid, 28, of 77 Bruce Avenue.
Ryan admitted repeatedly pushing the employee on his body and robbing him of two bottles of vodka and a packet of sausages worth approximately £30 on February 26, 2013. Both were on bail at the time.
Reid, who admitted the same charge, was jailed for nine months.