Trauma man was woken up by thief

A FORMER hostage victim who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder woke to discover a thief in his living room.

Brian Archibald got up in the early hours of Saturday to find John Farrell clutching items he had stolen.

Farrell ran off with a digital music player and a mobile phone, but dropped a travel organiser on his way out, Livingston Sheriff Court heard.

Prosecutor Lyndsey Armstrong said Mr Archibald “has essentially been housebound for the last two to five years”.

Farrell, 27, of Addiewell, West Lothian, yesterday admitted stealing from Mr Archibald and being found in a near neighbour’s house in circumstances suggesting he intended to commit theft.

Sheriff Simon Collins, QC, put Farrell on a 7pm to 7am bail curfew and sentence was deferred until next month.