An “opportunistic” Paisley man pinched an elderly lady’s purse containing six pound coins while she spoke to the priest at church.
Crook James Haggarty, 64, took the opportunity to steal a purse from the pensioner’s handbag at St Mary’s Church, Paisley, in March 2020, while she spoke briefly with the priest – before launching the empty purse into a nearby hedge.
Prosecutor John Penman told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Around 10.30am on Sunday, March 15, 2020, the complainer attended St Mary’s Church and took her handbag to the rear of the hall prior to speaking with the minister.
“She was away for no more than five or ten minutes when she returned she found her handbag but the purse containing six £1 coins had been taken.
“PC Brown who was off duty attended the church with his wife and he saw the accused throw an item into a nearby hedgerow.
“PC Brown later discovered when he entered the church that the complainer’s purse had been stolen.
“Police were contacted and when they attended they identified the accused nearby where he was cautioned and charged when he accepted he found the purse and removed the contents.
“The purse and money were recovered.”
Defence agent Kirsty McGeehan told the court that parishioner Haggarty now attends a different church following the incident as he is “embarrassed.”
Ms McGeehan added: “Haggarty claims he found the purse in the toilet and was opportunistic and took the £6 out of it and then put the purse in the hedge.
“When he went back into the church, he was immediately confronted and the purse was returned.
“He had been attending St Mary’s and finding solace and he is now embarrassed by his actions and now attends another church that he was baptised in last year.”
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Haggarty, of West Campbell Street, admitted the offence ahead of his trial diet at the town’s court.
Sheriff Tom McCartney fined Haggarty £225 reduced from £250 to reflect his plea at the trial diet.
A £20 victim surcharge was added and Haggarty was ordered to pay the fine at £20 per month.
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