A POLISH immigrant has been jailed for a raid on a Barrhead care home that saw him break into an 83-year-old dementia sufferer’s room and stealing her Christmas presents.

Daniel Maka spent the best part of decade behind bars in his native Poland for a series of robberies before he came to Scotland.

And once on Scottish soil he targeted one of the most vulnerable people in Barrhead – a woman who suffers from dementia and arthritis.

Maka, of Balgray Crescent, Auchenback, had dressed up as Santa Claus to bring joy to his nephews on December 26, 2016.

But he decided to become the Grinch who stole Christmas, breaking into Millview Care Home in Carlibar Road as he walked back to his own home.

Once inside, he swiped chocolates that his victim, who is now 85, had been given as presents.

He also stole a mitten emblazoned with the words “Queen Mum”, clothes, a toy box, a wall decoration, set of plain dominoes and a set of Gruffalo dominoes – which the pensioner played to keep her hands active because she has arthritic fingers.

Police were called about the robbery and, as Maka made his escape, he was caught nearby – still clutching a box of Lindt luxury Swiss chocolates under his arm.

He then struggled with police who arrested him and spat on a female officer in a rage.

Maka went on trial over the claims at Paisley Sheriff Court last month.

During the trial he took to the stand to give evidence in his own defence, claiming he was not responsible and could not remember where he had got the chocolates he was caught with.

Maka, who gave evidence with the help of an interpreter, said through her: “I was Santa Claus and, on the 24th, I found out I was going to be a father.

“I was with my sister’s husband [that night] and was drinking some alcohol.

“I was to be Santa Claus for her four kids and for the whole family – I was the Santa Claus.

“I was walking home and the police came.

“I felt I was being arrested for no reason.

“I can’t remember where I got the chocolates. Maybe it was from my sister, or maybe I bought them.”

But a jury found him guilty of all four of the charges against him.

The charges alleged Maka behaved in a disorderly manner by shouting and swearing in Main Street, Barrhead; assaulting PC Angela Bell by spitting on her; resisting arrest by struggling violently with her and colleague PC David Crawford; and breaking into the care home and stealing from the pensioner.

Maka, who is currently being held at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre near Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, because he is due to be deported from the UK, was remanded in custody after the jury delivered its verdict.

Sentence was adjourned for background reports to be prepared.

When Maka was brought back to the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday to be sentenced and defence solicitor Eamonn McGeehan said his client had – “to his credit” – volunteered to social workers preparing the report that he had spent “somewhere in the region of eight years in prison in

Poland”.

Mr McGeehan also told the hearing that Maka, who has a six-month-old son, was being deported by Home Office officials due to the court case, but that he was appealing against the decision to return him to Poland.

He asked for leniency for Maka, saying he had been working until he was remanded in custody and was able to do unpaid work in the community if the sheriff felt a community payback order was a suitable punishment.

But Sheriff Tom McCartney ruled only a jail term was appropriate.

As he sentenced Maka to a total of 24 months, he said: “My judgment is that, having regard to the gravity of this matter, there is no suitable alternative to a sentence of imprisonment.”