Red-handed thief given ten months

A THIEF who smashed his way into two homes and was caught in the act by both his victims has been jailed for ten months.

Kenneth McLennan, 44, had smashed the front window of a home in Grange Road in Edinburgh and was in the living room when the 87-year-old female owner returned.

McLennan left through the broken window, walked past her and disappeared. She found that 200 in cash and a passbook had been stolen.

Days later, an 18-year old woman living in the same road was the victim of a similar break-in, and called police after locking herself in a room.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday McLennan, of St Albans Road, Edinburgh, was jailed for ten months having previously pled guilty to breaking into the houses in Grange Road on September 7 and 13 this year.

He was on probation and two bail orders at the time. The sheriff said the social work report put McLennan at very high risk of re-offending.