Kevin McKeown (39) took a black motorcycle jacket and keys, David Beckham perfume, several long-sleeved shirts and a watch from the flat in Kensington Place.
But his time with his new possessions was short-lived – as he wandered back into the block of flats while police officers were still interviewing the victim.
McKeown, who is originally from Glasgow, later pleaded guilty to several charges, including larceny, and was sentenced to 180 hours of community service by the Royal Court on Friday.
Outlining the case, Crown Advocate Richard Pedley, prosecuting, said that McKeown took the items from the flat on the morning of 6 September last year.
A short time later he was spotted ‘stumbling and sprawled on the ground’ and ‘grunting in pain’ in the fountain area of Broad Street.
A police officer who went to the scene noted that he seemed ‘highly intoxicated’ with ‘dried white foam’ on his lips and his ‘eyes rolling back in his head’, the court heard.
McKeown told the police officer that he had taken a number of sedatives, which has been prescribed to someone else, and had drunk a litre of Jack Daniels whiskey as well as cider that day. He was taken to hospital before leaving and wandering into the victim’s block of flats. The police officers at the scene immediately spotted the stolen black jacket.
McKeown was arrested and later admitted larceny, as well as breaching bail and binding orders, being drunk and incapable and possession of a controlled substance.
Crown Advocate Pedley, prosecuting, called for McKeown to be jailed for 15 months, as he had committed a number of previous offences.
‘He has nine previous convictions and has been dealt with at parish hall inquiries several times,’ he said.
Urging the court to impose a non-custodial sentence, Advocate James Bell, defending, said all of McKeown’s crimes had been alcohol-related and he had made ‘significant progress’ in reducing his drinking.
‘He has already spent the equivalent of three months in custody.
‘My submission is that is that you should not follow the recommendation for a prison sentence because the balance tips in favour of rehabilitation rather than punishment,’ he said.
The advocate added that McKeown was taking medication to help wean himself off alcohol and had also recently found employment.
The Deputy Bailiff, Tim Le Cocq, said that the court had decided to spare the defendant jail as he was taking steps to address his alcohol addiction.
‘This is your last chance. Do not squander the chance you have been given. If you end up back here a custodial sentence will be inevitable,’ he said.
Jurats Jerry Ramsden and Paul Nicolle were sitting.
