Housebreaker is locked up
A THIEF who raided three houses in Selkirk has been jailed for 15 months.
Damien Smith also broke into a home in Galashiels where his loot included war medals.
Smith began a four-house spree of break-ins just days after being freed early from prison – and his total haul was valued at around 10,000.
The town’s sheriff court was told on Tuesday that he needed money to settle drug debts. The 24-year-old carried out the raids during a two-week spell last month.
Smith was jailed for nine months on January 24 and freed on February 16 because the sentence had been backdated.
Sheriff Michael Wood caged Smith for eight months for the house raids and ordered him to serve the seven months remaining on his original sentence.
Four days after his release, Smith broke into a house on The Green and stole a digital camera, an MP3 player, eight bottles of wine and 150 in cash. Neither the stolen items nor the cash were recovered.
Two days later, Smith struck at a house in Buccleuch Road, making off with a 150 petrol strimmer from a garden shed.
On February 25, Smith and another male were spotted acting suspiciously in Glebe Terrace.
Prosecutor Fiona Caldwell said it was discovered that property had been entered and items to the value of 4,000 stolen.
Shortly afterwards it became clear that Smith was responsible for a raid on a house in Mossilee Road, Galashiels. War medals, a large amount of jewellery and two television sets were stolen. Their total value was 5,000 and 3,000 worth was recovered.
Smith pleaded guilty to the four raids and an alleged accomplice also faces prosecution.
Smith’s lawyer said that on his client’s release from prison he found himself homeless, with no money and could not apply for benefits as he did not have an address. He explained Smith had drug debts to pay.
The lawyer urged the sheriff not to impose a jail term on homeless Smith. He offered an address in Hawick and asked the sheriff to consider a drug treatment and testing order.
But Sheriff Wood told Smith: “You have a significant record and you know that. The public is entitled to be protected from your conduct, especially as you were offending as soon as you left prison.”
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Weather for Selkirk
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: West
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Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
