A CLYDEBANK thief has been returned to jail for almost three years after admitting a string of break-ins.

Stephen Gilchrist appeared from custody at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for sentencing on September 2 after pleading guilty to nine break-ins or attempted break-ins.

The 37-year-old, listed in court papers as a resident of Vanguard Street, Clydebank, and later as an inmate at Greenock prison, admitted stealing jewellery, a laptop, tablets, mobile phones, military medals, a bottle of perfume and two silver sovereigns in raids on properties in Bearsden and Milngavie between October 31 last year and February 19.

He also admitted breaking into Cafe Prego at Milngavie railway station on December 19, 2019, and taking £100 in cash.

At the time of the offences Gilchrist was out on licence from prison, having been sentenced to jail time for previous offending.

Defence solicitor James Mulgrew said the "root cause of the relapse" was prompted by police leaving a card asking Gilchrist to call them.

"At the time, he knew he had not been committing offences," said the lawyer.

"He had been working as a landscape gardener and obtained that immediately open his release.

"His supervising officer said police enquiring of him led to a level of distrust of the officer.

"He was being invited to attend; he took the view that he didn't want to engage in that.

"It was because of the police enquiries that his mental health declined."

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said he didn't understand how police wanting to speak to Gilchrist and leaving him a card led to the distrust.

Mr Mulgrew replied: "Different stresses and pressures affect different people in different ways.

"He is apologetic. He has demonstrated some insight into the consequences of his offending on the complainers and others."

The solicitor said mental health issues led to Gilchrist's addiction problems, and he was being referred to a clinical psychologist within prison.

He added: "It doesn't explain or excuse the offences."

The court was told Gilchrist was keen to attend a residential rehabilitation programme in Ayrshire on his release, the court heard.

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Sheriff Hendry told Gilchrist: "I'm sending you to prison. I think it's unfortunate that at some point, perhaps 18 years ago, you didn't have a sustained period of community treatment.

"You have been offending your entire adult life. I would be failing in my public duty to try to go down the road that should have been gone down much, much earlier."

Gilchrist was sent back to prison to serve eight months from his previous offence; he will then start a further two years in jail for the house break-ins.

In addition he will be on a 'supervised release' order for 12 months when he reaches the end of his sentence.

He was handed a further six months for the railway station cafe theft; that sentence was backdated to August 5, but will run at the same time as his other sentence.