Man jailed for breaking into Goskirk Pettinger optometrists

HOURS after being cleared by a jury of breaking into an Inverness optometrist’s shop, an Inverness thief broke into the same premises again.

Peter MacAllister, was acquitted at Inverness Sheriff Court on February 23 this year of theft by housebreaking at Goskirk Pettinger (who also have a branch in Golspie) in Union Street and was released from custody.

But later that day he broke into the same shop and stole £140 in cash.

Depute fiscal Michelle Molley said at Inverness Sheriff Court today that on February 23 an employee secured the premises at around 5.30pm.

“A cash float was inside the premises containing £140 which consisted of two £50 notes and the balance in small change.

“When the employee returned to the premises to open up at 9am the following morning he discovered someone had broken into the premises.”

Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood was told a glass panel on the front door had been smashed and traces of blood were found.

Cash totalling £140 was stolen and the repair to the door cost £160.

MacAllister, was later traced to an address in Anderson Court on another matter and was found with cuts to his hands.

CCTV footage later showed he sustained the injuries breaking in to the optometrist’s.

MacAllister also admitted assaulting a police officer at Burnett Road Police station by spitting at him following his arrest.

Two £50 notes were recovered from him and they were identified as the stolen notes from Goskirk Pettinger.

A broken zip which matched the jacket worn by MacAllister when he was detained was also found at the crime scene.

He further admitted breaking into the public toilets in Mealmarket Close on November 12 last year and stealing £30 in cash.

The fiscal said the same premises had been broken into only six days previously incurring costs of £2250 to repair.

On November 13 a member of staff found blood inside the toilets and the cashbox forced open and £30 stolen. The repairs on this occasion came to £648.

Solicitor Willie Young said MacAllister had an “unenviable record”.

“He has struggled for many years with drug addiction.”

MacAllister, of no fixed abode, admitted the two charges of theft by housebreaking and police assault.

Sheriff Fleetwood noted MacAllister had been on early release from another prison sentence when he committed the offences.

Mr Young told the Sheriff when he was on remand for the latest offences his brother had died from a drug overdose in June of this year.

Sheriff Fleetwood jailed him for 22 months.

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