Man admits robbing Beatson Cancer Centre

A thief who robbed wards and offices at the Beatson Cancer Centre in Gartnavel Hospital using a stolen key card has been jailed for three years.

John Smith, 51, from Airdrie, plead guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to theft and housebreaking last October.

Sheriff Joseph Platt blasted Smith for his crime and called it a “new low” for the robber who has a previous offence for theft by housebreaking.

He told Smith: “The people who work at the Beatson have a reputation and you exploited this to create difficulty.

“This was a co-ordinated action and with your extensive record this is a new low you for you, people will feel disgusted.”

The court heard Smith, a heroin addict, entered the doctor handover room between 10am and 12.30pm on October 20 2018.

Later that day, two members of staff at Ward B5 noticed their purses , which contained money, bank cards and driving licences, were missing.

Over a week later, a different member of staff came back to her office at 4.30pm and noticed all the lights were on which was unusual.

Other staff members noticed money was gone from their desks and their drawers had been raided and a safe had been forced open and £24 was taken.

Prosecutor Marie McCue said: “Some blood was left on the drawers and desks and police were able to take DNA and found it to be Mr Smith’s.”

The police were able to trace the keycard used by Smith as it had been backed up by a computer system which logged when and where it was used.

Miss McCue said: “Using data from the card, CCTV was used to show the police who had accessed the building and identified John Smith.”

It was discovered that Smith had taken the card earlier that week at an office in ward three.

Smith was arrested on January 30 at Govan Police Office and was cautioned and charged.

He responded: “It wasn’t me” and there has been no recovery of the stolen items.

Defence lawyer Darren Khorsani said: “His record does him no favours but he has no recollection of committing the offence but accepts that he did so.”

When Sheriff Platt sentenced Smith he replied “I can’t cope” before being led away.