A “mean” thief has been jailed after ruining a family’s Christmas by stealing their presents – and then their car so he could make his getaway.
James Joyce had to attend his father’s funeral in handcuffs after eventually being arrested – and he was sentenced to 13 months in prison yesterday.
The 35-year-old, who had 39 previous convictions with 24 of them involving jail sentences,
At a previous hearing, the court was told Joyce had entered a bed and breakfast in Glenurquhart Road, Inverness to commit his “mean and nasty offences” on December 8, 2018.
His haul included a football top, packs of razors and blades, two mobile phones, a pullover, an electric toothbrush and other items. Joyce then stole the family’s father’s vehicle to drive to his home in Kyle of Lochalsh.
Joyce admitted theft, driving while disqualified and without insurance. He was also banned from driving for a year.
Defence solicitor Roger Webb said his 35-year-old client had “suffered the humiliation of attending his father’s funeral in handcuffs” after being caught.
He added: “He accepts his offences must have been devastating for the family concerned and knows how he would feel if it happened to him.”
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald said: “Breaking into a family’s home at Christmas, stealing their presents and then their car because you wanted an easy way to get home is an appalling offence.”
She backdated his sentence to December 12, when he was remanded in custody.