Man takes the ceramic

Jan 13 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PASSERS-BY suspected something fishy was going on when they spotted a drunken Perth man walking the streets late at night with a large ceramic octopus tucked underneath his arm.

James Mullen (37), of St Catherine’s Square, was traced by police at his home and the piece of artwork recovered.

But it was rather the worse for wear – and several tentacles had been broken off.

Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson said that Mullen had broken into the J. Jardine Galleries in New Row about 11pm on September 22.

He was later spotted carrying the “rather unusual object”. It was worth £400 with tentacles intact. The gallery owner had been reimbursed by his insurance company but had to pay a £100 excess.

Solicitor David Holmes said the accused, who had been drinking, was “surprised” at what he had done.

“He wasn’t able to tell police why he had the octopus or why he had taken it.”

Sheriff Michael Fletcher deferred sentence until April 8 and ordered a supplementary social inquiry report to be prepared.