An alcoholic thief and violent criminal who was snared when he left his DNA and fingerprints on a half-empty can of Tango at the crime scene has been jailed.
Kevin McCabe, known as Tolmie, left forensic traces of himself on the fizzy drink – leading police straight to his door.
He was jailed for two years at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Fiscal depute Alison Reid told the court that Tolmie walked into Icon Stores in Oscar Road, Aberdeen on May 20 this year, at around 5.25pm.
When staff at the Torry shop confronted him regarding an unrelated incident he began demanding a can of beer, despite saying he didn’t have money to pay for it.
“He was seen to be heavily under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” the fiscal said.
“He was bleeding from a cut to his finger. He was going to leave when he was confronted by the store assistant on an unrelated matter.
“He began demanding a can of beer from her, despite saying he had no money to pay for it.
“He then pulled a large orange, bladed kitchen knife from his waistband and brandished it while saying ‘I will get that one way or another’.”
Tolmie brandished a knife
When police later forced entry into his home they were given similar treatment.
“On seeing officers he brandished a large orange kitchen knife and a glass bottle in each hand at officers,” the fiscal added.
The court also heard how Tolmie was charged with theft after he entered an unsecured flat in Glenbervie Road in Aberdeen and stole £75 from a woman’s handbag on July 5 last year.
The thirsty thief was caught because he left an opened can of Tango on a worktop, which police later connected to him via DNA and fingerprints.
He admitted four charges of threatening or abusive behaviour, one charge of theft, and another of assaulting a retail worker.
The court also heard how Tolmie threatened to headbutt a shop worker and brandished a glass bottle at a security guard in Asda on Jesmond Drive on May 6 this year.
Prison ‘necessary to protect public’
Defence agent Iain McGregor said his client had had difficulties with alcohol in particular for “some considerable time”.
He said: “He realises a custodial sentence will be imposed.
“His fear is that he’ll simply slip back into his old ways when he’s released from that sentence and end up back before the court.”
Sheriff Ian Wallace told Tolmie that he would be imposing a sentence of imprisonment for his offences.
He added: “It is the only appropriate sentence in this case, given your record and the circumstances of these offences.
“It is my judgement that it is necessary in order to protect the public from serious harm due to your long record for violence.”
Sheriff Wallace sentenced Tolmie, whose address was given as HMP Grampian, to 24 months in prison, backdated to May 23 this year.
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