Thief broke into Edinburgh bistro and targeted bike store

A thief with “a terrible record” has been given a chance by a sheriff after admitting to attempting to break into an Edinburgh bike store.
Edinburgh Sheriff CourtEdinburgh Sheriff Court
Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Christopher Turnbull, 41, was facing a lengthy jail sentence when he appeared from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

But Sheriff John Mundy decided to hand the repeat offender an opportunity to turn life around by sentencing him to a two-year community order.

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Turnbull had been caught smashing a window and trying to gain entry to the Edinburgh Bike Smith store in the capital’s Causewayside in the early hours of July 23.

Neighbours called police and Turnbull was spotted hiding in a nearby stairwell.

A pair of gloves found on him contained pieces of smashed glass and he was also carrying a black bag.

Turnbull was also found to be carrying a knife and had a bank card terminal in the bag.

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Officers printed off a receipt which showed the terminal belonged to the bar bistro business Damm 27 which is located near to the bike store.

Police attended at the Damm 27 premises and discovered a “small door at street level” had been smashed open by Turnbull for him to gain entry.

He previously pled guilty to three charges at the capital court by video link from HMP Edinburgh and was in the dock in person last Tuesday.

Defence lawyer Gordon Stewart said his client had “accepted responsibility” for the offences at an early stage and his family had a new address in Pencaitland for him to go to if he was granted leniency.

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Mr Stewart added Turnbull and his partner had a six-month-old baby and he was “desperate to get back to his family”.

Sheriff Mundy sentenced to a two-year offenders supervision order and told him he must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Turnbull will also be tagged and must remain within his home between 7pm and 7am for the next six months.

Turnbull pleaded guilty to smashing a window and attempting to break into the Edinburgh Bike Smith, Causewayside, Edinburgh, on July 23 this year.

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He also admitted to breaking into Damm 27 and stealing a payment terminal at the same street on the same date.

Turnbull also admitted to possessing a knife during the same incidents.

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