Man broke into Newtonmore bar, sat and drank alone before breaking into a holiday home

A man broke into a bar in Newtonmore, sat and drank alone and then broke into a holiday home afterwards.

Duncan McLaren (34) broke a window to enter into Balavil Sport Hotel on the Main Street before stealing a quantity of alcohol and then smashed a window at The Signal Box by the village’s railway station on April 21, last year.

Fiscal depute Karen Poke told Sheriff Gary Aitken at Inverness Sheriff Court: “At 3.40am on April 21, 2024 the accused was captured on CCTV approaching the Balavil Sport Hotel which was locked up with metal bars around the bar area.

“The accused was captured walking up to the hotel where he managed to break the top window, reached inside and unlocked the window and opened it.

“He approached the bar and tried a number of doors before breaking the left side shutter to roll up.

“He climbed over the bar and was seen on CCTV using his light on his phone and climbed off with bottles and a glass and turned the lights on and off.

“He then sat down in the bar area for two hours and left at around 4.12am.

“He stole £63.99 of alcohol and soft drinks and caused damage of £2500 to the window and shutter.

“The owners of The Signal Box, Newtonmore, were then unable to gain access to their property and had no booking.

“They approached the rear bedroom and saw a window with traces of blood and two can of coke on the coffee table.”

The total cost of damage was £800.

The accused was later traced on April 22 and was cautioned and interviewed.

Ms Poke said:“He stated that on the night in question, he and his girlfriend had an argument and he was looking for somewhere to sleep.”

McLaren, of Bonnet Hill Road, Pitlochry, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, theft and maliciously smashing a window.

Sheriff Aitken deferred sentencing until June 10 for background reports to be completed.

McLaren’s defence solicitor Clare Russell said: “This was a mental health episode, as his friend had just taken his own life.”