Mark Gallagher jailed after Three Towns business break-ins

Mark Gallagher targeted Eden Hair Beauty Aesthetics in Saltcoats in October 2022 and then raided Dee Dee's Cutz in Ardrossan earlier this year.

The 56-year-old was handed a custodial sentence after pleading guilty to three charges at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

In addition to the two business break-ins, Gallagher also admitted a further charge of being found in the curtilage of a property in Arran Lane, Ardrossan, in circumstances where it could be reasonably inferred he intended to commit a theft.

Dealing with the first of the break-ins, procurator fiscal depute Alexander Fraser said a member of staff at the Eden salon on Windmill Street discovered the business had been targeted when they arrived to open up at 9.15am on October 7.

They immediately noticed that the front door shutter had been broken open and that the window of the door behind the shutter had been smashed.

The damaged window. (Image: Facebook)

Mr Fraser continued: "On entering the shop the employee observed that internal door had been forced open and damaged, and the shop was in a state of disarray.

"Items had been moved and a number of items were found to be missing."

The stolen items included a quantity of hair tools, three hair driers, three sets of straighteners, two sets of hair tongs, a tattoo machine, a micro needling machine, monotherapy vials, and a mobile phone.

Mr Fraser said the items, which were not recovered, were valued at £3,000 - though Sheriff Sheena Fraser said that sum would not include the loss of business as a result of the stolen items and the salon having to close afterwards.

(Image: Facebook/Street View)

A crime scene officer attended the business on October 9 and noticed glove marks at the entry point and blood on the inside shutter covering the broken window.

Swabs were taken and forensically analysed and, Mr Fraser said, resulted in a DNA match with Gallagher.

However, he wasn't traced until August of last year, when he was arrested, cautioned and charged.

Turning to the Dee Dee's Cutz incident, Mr Fraser explained: "At around 6am on April 13 this year a neighbour to the business was woken by the sound of smashing glass.

(Image: Facebook/Street View)

"The neighbour looked out of their window and observed the accused [Gallagher] entering the shop through a broken window.

"The neighbour contacted police immediately who were actioned to attend the ‘ongoing housebreaking’."

The fiscal depute added that police responding to the incident had driven past Gallagher on their way to the business, in Young Street, but at that time were unaware he was responsible for the break-in.

Mr Fraser continued: "They entered the shop and observed that items had been moved and the place was in disarray. Drawers had been moved and discarded on the floor.

"At that time the shop owner attended and advised that small float cash was missing as was a charity box.

"Local CCTV footage was then reviewed by officers and accused was seen on this climbing in the window at the locus. Officers then realised that they had driven past that male earlier on."

(Image: Facebook/Street View)

Officers then made efforts to trace Gallagher around the area, but he had made off and they were unable to locate him.

However, they did recover the stolen charity tin and discovered that all the contents were still inside.

However, during this search they were able to recover the stolen charity tin with all contents still within.

The final incident took place less than a week later, April 19, outside a property in Arran Lane in Ardrossan.

At 10.55pm the householder here was notified, via their Ring doorbell, that a person was at the front of their home.

Mr Fraser said: "They observed the accused at the front door, crouching down and looking into the house and then walking to the rear garden.

"The householder then shouted from her upstairs window that she was calling the police. The accused then left.

"She then contacted police who watched the footage and identified the accused."

This time, Gallagher was found the following day and taken to Saltcoats police station, where he was cautioned and charged.

He first appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on April 22, and has been remanded in custody since.

Gallagher's solicitor, Simon Brown, said his client had been living in Saltcoats prior to his remand at HMP Kilmarnock.

Mr Brown said: "He is a man who has suffered from drug misuse and addiction. This was his way of funding that habit."

He also asked Sheriff Fraser to take into account that the 56-year-old had pleaded guilty to at the earliest possible opportunity.

Sheriff Fraser said: “It is, of course, to your credit that you pleaded guilty to this matter at the first opportunity, though the offences of which you pled guilty are very serious. The court takes a dim view of breaking into commercial premises and you did this twice.

“I have come to the conclusion that the only sentence available to me is a custodial one.”

Gallagher was handed a 12-month sentence, backdated to his initial remand in April.