A man was caught breaking into a house in Blantyre this week and claimed that the occupiers owed him money. Connar MacPherson, 33, from Burnbrae Road, Blantyre, was sentenced to a year in jail at Hamilton Sheriff Court. MacPherson confessed to breaking into a terraced property on Fernslea Avenue with the intention to steal, alongside another individual, on February 9. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer at University Hospital Wishaw following his arrest.
According to Lewis Devoy, the prosecutor, the break-in took place around 9 am when a neighbour saw MacPherson and his accomplice kicking the front door before entering the house. The police were notified and upon arriving, they found the damaged front door. Upon searching the house, they discovered MacPherson attempting to hide behind a bedroom door. MacPherson was reported to have worn a grey hood pulled low over his eyes and his chin tucked into his jacket. He told the officers, “It’s fine. They just owe money.”
As MacPherson was taken to Motherwell police station, he began to feel drowsy, with slurred speech and was struggling to stay awake. Subsequently, he was taken to the hospital where he kicked an officer on the knee while awaiting assessment. His defence lawyer, Scott Jones, highlighted that MacPherson, who has a history of previous convictions, battles with mental health and drug addiction issues. Jones stated, “He is remorseful and acknowledges that his behaviour was unacceptable.”
In an unexpected turn of events, MacPherson’s claim of debts owed by the occupants sheds light on a possible motive behind the break-in. The case serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding criminal behaviour and the underlying issues that some individuals face, leading them down a path of unlawful actions. It also underscores the importance of addressing mental health and addiction issues within the criminal justice system to prevent further incidents like these from occurring in the future.