A THIEF who broke into an Italian restaurant and Chinese takeaway was jailed today for two years.

Liam Anderson, 27, first targeted a premises now occupied by Farina Pizza in Glasgow's Finnieston on December 29, 2023.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that an employee noted that the front door glass panel had been smashed with a red brick when opening up the restaurant.

The cash register was also on the floor which had traces of blood splatter on it.

Police later attended and a forensic team took samples away for analysis.

Meantime, it was discovered that £50 had been stolen.

Prosecutor Gail Campbell said: "The swab results showed that it was one billion times more likely to be DNA of Anderson than anyone related to him."

Efforts to trace Anderson were unsuccessful.

The damage to the business was stated to be £250 as well as the £50 that was taken.

The hearing was told that Anderson struck again at a premises occupied by Xing Fu Tang in the city's Byres Road in the west end.

A neighbour heard banging outside and later spotted Anderson kicking the front door several times.

Anderson entered for a short period and exited through a hole in the door he had created.

Police were contacted and later traced Anderson nearby who was found with gloves.

An area search also recovered receipts from the Chinese restaurant and a till was located in a bin close by.

CCTV provided by the owner showed that the perpetrator was wearing reflective patches on his trousers which matched the pair Anderson had on.

Anderson, who appeared from custody, pleaded to two charges of breaking into premises and stealing a quantity of money.

Craig Dewar, defending, told the court that his client's actions were "opportunistic" and to fund his drug habit.

Sheriff John McCormick said: "The sums taken were not large but there was damage done to the premises.

"You have a history of similar offending including various custodial and non-custodial sentences which have not stopped your offending."