A man who tried to break into an Aberdeen flat was caught thanks to his distinctive red hair and socks and sandals combo.
Jack Smith startled a woman when he appeared at her kitchen window on Gerrard Street and tried to reach his hand inside.
The brave woman confronted the 29-year-old, who she spotted on her CCTV after hearing a loud bang when Smith kicked the window.
Smith left, but police were quickly able to trace him in the area after being passed the detailed description of his distinctive style.
Fiscal depute Brian Young told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “At about 10.20pm on Tuesday March 23, a lady in her 50s was within her bedroom at the locus.
“Five minutes later, she heard a loud bang coming from her kitchen window.
Smith stood at kitchen window for ‘a few minutes’
“The woman immediately looked at her live CCTV stream and saw the accused on her kitchen windowsill outside.
“She attended at her kitchen and confronted the accused and asked ‘what are
you doing?’.
“The accused muttered something incomprehensible in reply and the woman immediately contacted the police.”
Smith walked away from the property and the woman watched him from her window as he walked towards the Gallowgate.
While waiting for the police to arrive, the woman reviewed the CCTV footage and saw Smith approach her address at 10.21pm.
Mr Young said: “He was seen to stand at the kitchen window for a few minutes before putting his hand through the window, climbing onto the window sill and thereafter, he kicked the window.”
Police in the area were told to be on the lookout for a red-haired individual with knee
length trousers and socks and sandals.
“Soon after, at approximately 10.30pm, they observed the accused and stopped to
speak with him. At this time, he was calm and cooperative, however, he was not making sense and struggled to keep his balance when standing still.”
However, when officers attempted to arrest him, Smith “attempted to flee and began to struggle violently”.
‘It would appear that he was under the influence of substances’
As officers tried to restrain him, Smith began to writhe around and flail his arms, striking both constables to their faces with an open palm.
Smith also attempted to spit at the police and bit their hands. Attempts were also made to kick the officers.
The police constables did not require medical treatment but sustained multiple cuts and scratches.
Smith, of HMP Grampian, pled guilty to attempted housebreaking with intent to steal and two charges of assault to injury.
Defence agent Alex Burn said: “The situation is that in connection with these matters he’s got no recollection whatsoever, although he fully accepts culpability and takes full responsibility.
Smith has ‘atrocious’ record
“It would appear that on the day in question he was under the influence of substances and that led to the lack of recollection on his part.”
Mr Burn added his client had violence “regularly visited upon him” as a child and also suffered from ADHD.
He added: “He apologises for his behaviour. He did write an apology to the police officers.
“He does appear genuinely remorseful.”
Sheriff Graham Buchanan told Smith he had an “atrocious” record of previous convictions.
He said: “There really is no alternative in this case to a further prison sentence.”
The sheriff ordered Smith to be jailed for 147 days in relation to an unexpired portion of a previous sentence and imposed a further nine months in prison for the new matter.
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.
