A woman in Blantyre was shocked when she awoke in the early hours to find an intruder sitting in her bedroom. The incident, which occurred on Church Street, involved Gerard Valenti who bizarrely claimed he was there to “do your gutters” when confronted by the scared mother. The episode unfolded on June 30, where Valenti, 32, not only stole clothing, tools, and other items from the house but also pilfered from a van parked outside.
The scene was described at Hamilton Sheriff Court where it was revealed that CCTV footage captured Valenti entering the unlocked van around 3 am. After cutting his face in a fall, he proceeded to enter the insecure house. The woman residing in the house woke up to find Valenti seated on a dresser at the end of her bed, bleeding and reeking of alcohol. In a frightened state, she demanded him to leave, to which he nonsensically replied about doing her gutters.
The woman managed to rouse her son, who then discovered that his room had been rummaged through while he slept. Upon spotting Valenti wearing his jacket in the street, he intervened, detaining him until the authorities arrived. The son also noticed that tools had gone missing from his work van. Although most of the stolen goods were recovered, a Gucci watch remained unaccounted for.
Valenti, struggling with issues of substance abuse, was remanded in custody following the incident. His sentencing at Hamilton Sheriff Court was postponed for further investigation into his background. The court also noted Valenti’s previous convictions, leading to his continued detention. The community in Blantyre has been left on edge by this alarming event, underscoring the importance of vigilance and security measures in the area.