All I want for Christmas is the jail

Gordon Wilson, 40, asked to be locked up over Christmas after he deliberately stole food from a supermarket in the hopes of being arrested.

He told Perth Sheriff Court he wanted to detox in prison to beat his £36,500 a year drug habit.

The career criminal’s request was granted by Sheriff Valerie Johnston who sentenced him to 14 weeks behind bars for the theft of £37 worth of meat on September 20 from a Co-op in Perth.

His solicitor, John McLaughlin, said: “He is currently serving a sentence imposed at this court and his date of liberation is 18 December.

“I know the court doesn’t usually do requests, but I have a rather unusual request from Mr Wilson.

“His position is that at the time of this offence he had a very significant drug habit and was using one gram a day, costing £100, and as a result he was stealing to fund that habit.

“It dawned on him that this couldn’t go on and about four weeks ago he deliberately stole an item and then came to court with his bags packed to start a period of imprisonment.

“The reason for that was that he considered that was the only way he was going to do detox. He has started that and it is going very well.”

Mr McLaughlin added that if Mr Wilson were released before Christmas he would have to go to his former home in St Catherine’s Square, Perth.

He said: “You may have heard of that address.

“He considers that will take him straight back to using drugs again.

“He hoped that - rather perversely - you might be persuaded to give him an additional sentence to keep him in custody for a total of 13 weeks.

“After 13 weeks he can be released to the new flat in Bridge of Earn. His concern is that if he is released on 18 December it will bring him back into contact with those using drugs.

“It is a mature approach and at the age of 40 it is perhaps time he adopted a mature approach to life. It is his hope that leaving after detox and to accommodation away from others he can get his life back on track and move forward.

“I would commend his attitude.”

Sheriff Johnston said: “I’m taking account of what’s been said. It’s costing a fortune to keep you in prison, when what you stole is worth so little.

“If there’s a way from diverting you away from this, even at your age, then I’m willing to take it.”