A DESPICABLE thief stole van keys from the jacket pocket of a man visiting his baby in hospital.

Anthony Kelly, 47, claimed he found the keys on the ground, but a sheriff did not believe his explanation – given his 100 past convictions for crimes including vehicle theft, housebreaking and shoplifting – and jailed him for the callous crime.

Glasgow Sheriff Court was told that the victim parked up at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital at around 6pm to visit his son who was receiving medical treatment.

On arrival to the neonatal unit, the complainer removed his jacket as per hospital protocol and hung it up in a communal area. When he returned to collect his coat, his keys were gone along with the transit van.

During the police's investigation the following day, the victim was notified that his credit card – which was in his wallet within the van – had been used within the Glasgow area.

CCTV was viewed to which Kelly and co-accused Gemma Thomson, 24, were traced and detained. Third co-accused, Anthony's nephew Scott Kelly, was later arrested for a part in the offence.

The crime occurred on February 18, 2017.

On that day a senior neonatal nurse spotted Anthony Kelly within the care unit as Scott Kelly's daughter was also receiving treatment alongside the victim's child.

Anthony Kelly pleaded guilty to pinching the van keys at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. He also admitted committing the theft whilst already on bail.

Thomson pleaded guilty to entering the insecure motor and stealing a wallet containing debit and credit cards, along with some power tools.

She also admitted presenting her victim's card and using the contactless payment method to fraudulently purchase a quantity of alcohol, cigarettes and food worth £120 from One O One convenience store on Paisley Road West and at Bella Vita on Mosspark Boulevard.

Kelly's lawyer admitted: "It is a mean offence."

The defence agent claimed that his client found the keys lying on the ground, however Sheriff Aisha Anwar believed the Crown's position that they were within the victim's jacket pocket.

It was noted that Kelly was already on a Community Payback Order and Restriction of Liberty Order, but wished to "break away from offending" and take care of his ill mum and dad.

Kelly was said to be drink, drug and trouble free and planned to keep it that way.

However, his lawyer accepted: "He does have a bad record."

Sheriff Anwar highlighted that Kelly had 100 past convictions for crimes including vehicle theft, housebreaking and shoplifting.

Although the accused claimed there was no planning involved, Sheriff Anwar did not accept it was an opportunistic theft as it had been noted within the Criminal Justice Social Work report that Kelly had lined up a buyer for the stolen vehicle.

Kelly, of Balgonie Road, was sentenced to 46 weeks in prison. He kissed Thomson before being led to the cells.

Thomson, of Cleeves Road, will return to court on June 14 following a 218 Service assessment.

Third co-accused Scott Kelly, 19, of Pinmore Street, failed to show for punishment for his part in the crime. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Following Anthony Kelly's incarceration, a spokesman from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "Unfortunately there are occasions when thefts occur in our hospitals.

"All wards in our hospitals have security measures in place and in the majority this includes controlled access via an intercom.

"We routinely and frequently ask our staff and patients to be vigilant and our security staff work closely with local police officers to deter thefts in our buildings and around the hospital grounds."