by Craig Borland

A HOMELESS drug addict broke into another man’s room at temporary accommodation in Clydebank and stole cash, CDs and prescribed medicine.

Joseph Rae forced his way into the victim’s room at the Hardgate House Hotel and stole the items on September 30 last year.

Rae appeared from custody at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week for sentencing – but will have to wait until next month to find out his fate after the presiding sheriff decided to allow time to find out whether the 26-year-old might be a suitable candidate for a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO).

Rae had pleaded guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing – and when he was brought back to the dock on April 13, his solicitor described in some detail what she called a “considerable record” of offending.

Karen McLean said Rae’s criminal behaviour followed a clear pattern.

“Whenever his life is in disorder,” she said, “he has taken drugs, and in that period he accumulates further offences. This offence took place within council-allocated homeless accommodation. He had met friends who were taking drugs in the local area.

“The complainer was an old acquaintance who was a drug user with them.

“The day before this matter, he had been aware that the acquaintance was away, and had left money and medication.

“He did initially ‘chap the door’, wanting to ‘cadge’ something from him. There was nobody in the room and he broke in and took the items.”

Ms McLean said Rae, who was listed in court papers as a prisoner at HMP Barlinnie, had been in custody since October 14 in connection with a similar offence and had an earliest release date of May 12.

She added: “When he is at liberty and using drugs he doesn’t cope. He is serving a sentence for theft by shoplifting, aggravated by possession of a hypodermic needle.

“The question is whether the public interest would be further served by adding more time to his sentence, or whether there would be more benefit to having a DTTO in place to try and break the cycle.”

Sheriff Simon Pender adjourned the case until May 5, shortly before Rae’s expected release date, for further consideration of a possible DTTO assessment.

DTTOs are available to courts as a direct alternative to custody for offenders whose criminal behaviour is directly related to serious drug use. The orders require the offender to undergo treatment including drug testing and a system of frequent reviews to check whether they are staying clean.