Thief jailed for two years for breaking into Livingston homes

Dec 31 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A THIEF who targeted the same house twice in a month has made the owner so scared to be in her own home she has put it up for sale.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard Paul Montgomery broke into a home on Falconer Rise on February 10 this year.

However, the crook botched the job and only managed to get the 42-inch plasma TV off the wall on to the floor before abandoning it.

However, he returned on March 9 and made off with the TV which was worth £850.

Senior fiscal depute Helen McCannell said: “She said the insurance company had paid for the TV but she has been so distressed by the whole incident that she is having to sell her house.”

Ms McCannell also told the court that Montgomery had broken into a house on Herald Rise by smashing its patio doors but was disturbed by the owner who had been upstairs having a shower and he made off.

The 22-year-old was also caught selling on stolen gear including power tools, a watch and DVDs.

Cops also found out Montgomery had sold a stolen motorbike on internet auction site E-bay.

He told police officers he had carried out the offences for cash while he was living with his aunt in Dedridge.

Last week Montgomery, whose address was given as Firrhill Drive, Edinburgh, pled guilty to the offences.

His solicitor, Miss Beattie, told the court her client had spent time in a young offenders’ institute for similar offences.

She added: “At the moment he is serving his first lengthy period in custody in an adult environment.

“He remains in contact with his partner who has recently given birth to his first child.

“He is keen to be there for his family on his release from custody. He grew up without a stable male role model and wants to be there for his child.

“He does not intend to return to live with his aunt on his release from custody.

“He accepts that his drug use accounted for his poor judgement in committing these offences.

“He is a fairly young man who recognises the error of his ways. He is still young enough to change the direction his life has taken so far.

“He feels he has let down everyone.”

Jailing Montgomery for two years Sheriff Donald Muirhead said: “I have listened to your solicitor who has addressed me at length on the various options open to me.

“But you have a bad record going as far back as 2004 when you were given a lengthy period of detention for house breaking.

“These kind of cases are very distressing for the people concerned and it is considered to be very serious.

“Taking everything into account I do not think anything but custody is appropriate.”