A squatter who broke into the home of a retired police officer in Inverness was jailed for six months last week.
First offender Constantin Rosu, 36, was told he had committed a “very serious offence” by breaking into the unoccupied house in an upmarket area of the city.
The house belonged to former Northern Constabulary sergeant Peter MacLean, 60, who was not amused when he returned to find the property being treated like a squat – and the culprit still in the house.
He immediately swung back into police mode and conducted a citizen’s arrest
Yesterday Rosu was ordered to be locked up by Sheriff Margaret Neilson after a background report was prepared for the city’s sheriff court.
Last month Rosu, of the Highlander Hostel, High Street, Inverness, was found guilty after a trial in Inverness.
He had denied breaking into Mr MacLean’s Culduthel Road home on April 14 this year.
He also pleaded not guilty to stealing a mobile phone, a phone charger, battery and a skean dhu from the house.
Yesterday, Rosu’s solicitor Neil Wilson told the court that his client had “fully co-operated with the police investigation”, despite his initial not guilty plea.
Mr Wilson also argued that a degree of leniency should be applied due to Rosu’s status as a first time offender.
However, Sheriff Neilson told Rosu: “You were found guilty of a very serious offence.
“I have taken into account the fact you are a first time offender and on that basis I will sentence you to six months imprisonment.”
During the trial the court heard that Mr MacLean was grieving for his late mother when he discovered Rosu in his home.
He even took a mugshot of the intruder as he begged him not to turn him in.
The former officer said Rosu had rifled through personal papers and a computer at his home in the Culduthel area.
There were also pools of urine on the bathroom floor and the toilet had not been flushed.
During the trial Mr MacLean told the court: “I had gone away for a couple of days and when I got back I discovered the broken pane of glass and the patio doors at the rear had been forced open.
“I made sure I locked the house before I went away.
“I went inside and got the shock of my life when I was confronted by Rosu.
“When he saw me, he just froze. I grabbed hold of him so he wouldn’t get away and phoned the police.”
He added: “I was fit to burst. The house was a mess, the toilet was disgusting and he had been on my computer and printer. I had to change all my passwords. I really felt violated, especially so soon after my mother’s death.
“He had been reading the condolence cards and private legal correspondence. They were scattered where he had been sitting.”
Rosu claimed to the court that he thought the house belonged to a friend and that he was staying there until he arrived home.