Prolific Offender Jailed for Breaking into East Kilbride Town Centre Office

A serial offender who was caught red-handed after breaking into an office in East Kilbride town centre has been sentenced to more than three years in prison.

Thomas Paterson, 34, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court where he was sentenced to 38 months behind bars for his latest break-in on Montgomery Street.

Ripped Off Letterbox

The court heard that on November 10, 2023, Paterson approached the business premises in the Village district. In a desperate bid to gain entry, he ripped the metal letterbox off the front door, creating a gap large enough for him to reach his arm inside and manually unlock the door from the inside.

Once inside, Paterson ransacked the office drawers, stealing £180 in cash, a set of keys, and a bottle of alcohol. However, his actions triggered an alert, and police officers arrived at the scene rapidly, catching him red-handed inside the building before he could make his escape.

Extensive Record of Dishonesty

Paterson pleaded guilty to the charge of housebreaking with intent to steal. During the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor detailed Paterson's extensive criminal history, pointing out that he had "numerous" previous convictions for crimes of dishonesty, burglary, and theft. Shockingly, the court was told that Paterson had been granted bail twice in the month preceding this offense, highlighting a pattern of continuous offending.

His defense solicitor stated that Paterson had made genuine attempts to turn his life around, including doing voluntary charity work, but had once again succumbed to a severe addiction to alcohol and street Valium, which cloud his judgment and lead to criminal behavior.

Sentencing

Sheriff John Hamilton noted that Paterson's record left the court with no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence. Paterson was sentenced to 38 months in prison, which was reduced from 56 months due to his early guilty plea. The sentence was backdated to November 13, 2023, when he was first remanded in custody.