A MAN, described as a "professional thief" by a sheriff, is set to receive a lengthy jail term.

Malcolm Hutcheon pleaded guilty on Tuesday at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to a series of break-ins to cars and breaching a driving ban.

Hutcheon, 47, who's address was given as a prisoner of Greenock Prison, committed the first break in on October 21, 2016. The court heard how he forced open a car parked and secured in Admiralty Gardens, Old Kilpatrick, stealing a quantity of tools, none of which were recovered.

On February 10, 2017, again at Admiralty Gardens, he returned to break into a different parked and locked car, and again stole a quantity of tools. His third theft happened on April 8, this year, at Neilston Avenue, Glasgow, where similarly he forced open a car and made off with a quantity of tools.

Hutcheon also admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance on Admiralty Gardens on October 21, 2016.

Depute Fiscal David McDonald told the court: "The first break-in happened at 3.55am, the car having been locked and secured the previous evening. He was captured on a neighbours CCTV removing the tools and driving off in a car. At 7.30am the owner returned to his car and found boxes of tools missing. He contacted the police. The tools were valued at £250 and there was no recovery.

"At 1pm on February 9, 2017, the owner of a car, also in Admiralty Gardens, parked and secured his vehicle. CCTV images saw Hutcheon shining a torch into the car at 4.55am. The rear door was forced open with a screwdriver and he was seen removing a quantity of garden equipment and drove off. The tools were valued at £3000, with only a £500 strimmer being recovered."

The court then heard that Hutcheon committed a third break-in on April 8, this year, in Glasgow. The prosecutor told how the owner was wakened up by an alarm going off at 3.55am, but didn't do anything.

Mr McDonald added: "Later that same day Hucheon was stopped by police on an unrelated matter and the stolen items from the third car were found in his possession. They were valued at £650.

His defence lawyer John McShane, said: "He was released from prison in 2014 after a lengthy sentence. He has had a lifelong addiction problem and resorted to drugs again in 2016 and committed these thefts to get money to feed his habit. He drove the car while disqualified to get to and back from the thefts."

Sheriff William Gallacher told Hutcheon: "Your are nothing but a professional thief who over the years have routinely broken into cars and stealing everything imaginable."

Sentence was deferred until August 30 to obtain a full social work background report, with the view of imposing a supervised release order upon his release. He was remanded in custody.