A Renfrewshire man has admitted being in possession of a knife in a public place – and stealing jewellery, clothing and medication from a Paisley property.
William Byres had the weapon in his waistband in Dalskeith Road on September 5, 2020, telling cops he had just “found it the other day”.
The 46-year-old then went on to cause over £4,000 worth of damage when he smashed the patio windows of a property in Paisley’s Hillman Road on October 14 last year in order to break in.
Byres was caught in the kitchen by the homeowner trying to steal letters, medication, clothing, electrical items, jewellery and shoes.
Prosecutor David Gallagher told Paisley Sheriff Court that on the September 5 date, officers wearing plain clothes spotted Byres at the front door of a property previously linked with selling drugs and, when he was searched, a lockback knife was discovered.
Mr Gallagher said: “The accused was informed he was under arrest and indicated he understood and when asked if he had a reply to his arrest, he stated, ‘Something silly that I’ve done, I found it the other day.’
“Byres was cautioned and charged and replied, ‘I took it out, sometimes you just don’t think.’”
For the October 14 incident, Mr Gallagher told how the couple who lived in the Hillman Road property left their house to go to work with everything in order.
Mr Gallagher explained: “The property was locked and secured when Mr and Mrs Ryan left to go to work.
“Mrs Ryan returned around 2.20pm and, as she unlocked the front door, she observed a number of pairs of shoes strewn over the hallway which she found strange.
“She shouted for her husband thinking he was at home and at this time she observed Byres within the kitchen facing away from her. She observed the accused attempting to lift large bags and walk out of the kitchen through the patio windows that he had smashed.
“Mrs Ryan panicked and shouted, ‘What are you doing’ and grabbed the accused by his jacket. The accused mumbles and walked away and Mrs Ryan contacted the police and ran to the front of her home.
“She alerted a police witness Kerr, an off-duty police officer who was nearby, and informed him of what happened. Byres was observed walking down Hillman Road carrying a large blue suitcase, a green shopping bag and a black JD sports bag.”
The accused was apprehended by Kerr and then arrested as police attended the scene. Items were recovered and identified as belonging to the couple.
“The value of the items stolen was £1,000 and there was full recovery,” Mr Gallagher added. “The damage to the property as a result of the housebreaking was £4,500.”
Sheriff Bruce Erroch KC deferred sentence until March 3 for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report. Byres, of Ferguslie Park Avenue, was remanded meantime.
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