A HELENSBURGH teenager claimed he broke into his uncle’s home to check on his welfare... except he wasn’t related to the man at all.

Jamie Harkins was found with a quantity of pills he stole from the man in Helensburgh when police caught him.

Now aged 19, Harkins was originally charged at a more serious solemn level, but the matter was was later reduced to a summary charge.

He pleaded guilty to the March 30, 2020 break-in.

Previously of Buchanan Road and now of West Clyde Street, Helensburgh, Harkins returned to Dumbarton Sheriff Court last Tuesday for sentencing.

Fiscal depute Rebecca Reid said police got an anonymous report that a window had been smashed at the rear of a home in Drumfork Crescent around 10.45pm.

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Police arrived and saw the rear kitchen window broken and a brick lying outside. There was no reply to repeated calls to anyone inside.

Eventually officers got into the common close after a neighbour let them in.

Ms Reid said: “As police entered, the accused came out of the locus stating that his uncle was within the bedroom and that he had concerns for him as he had not spoken to him all day.

“He gained entry by smashing the kitchen window.

“When police entered, the resident was sleeping in the bedroom area of the flat. He said although he knew the accused, [Harkins] had not been in the flat when he fell asleep.

“He was not related to the accused and he had no business being in his flat.”

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A medication box in the bedroom had blood on it and codeine tablets had been taken.

Harkins was searched and found to have a blood-stained £10 and £20 note.

While in the back of a police van, officers noticed the teenager had his hands in his pocket. They stopped and searched Harkins and found a box of codeine tablets with the name of the man who had been robbed.

Defence solicitor Scott Adair said his client, when charged, replied: “Well, he owes me.”

He said Harkins had very little recollection of events and had turned to drugs and alcohol after the death of a close family member in 2019.

Mr Adair said: “He has moved on. He appears to have been out of trouble since this incident.”

Sheriff David Hall said: “This is a very serious matter, and it doesn’t matter what the background was - the court will not tolerate people breaking into houses.”

He put Harkins under social work supervision for a year. He must also do 120 hours of unpaid work in the community within 10 months.