Homeless man broke into mother’s house to get food

David Murray (20), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to criminal damage on May 25.

The Court heard he broke a window of his mother’s flat at Sandale Park, and when the police arrived he told officers he had “broken into his mother’s house to keep warm”.

Murray’s mother told the police that her son did not have permission to be in the flat and that he had caused £80 worth of damage.

Defence solicitor Eugene Burns told the court his client was homeless and had no money.

He said the 20-year-old, who did not have a prior criminal record, had not been eating and had gone to his mother’s to get food.

Deputy District Judge Christopher Holmes imposed a one-year conditional discharge and ordered Murray to pay £80 compensation.