A former teenage lottery winner has been jailed after CCTV showed him and an associate storming a Dundee flat and threatening to petrol-bomb the occupants. The case — involving stolen items, violent intimidation and one man already serving a long drugs sentence — underlines immediate concerns about community safety and the cycle of offending.
What the footage shows
On 25 November 2024, CCTV recorded two men forcing their way into a flat on Watson Street, Dundee. The pair were captured shouting death threats, demanding cash and warning they would use petrol to set the property alight; a woman can be heard screaming inside.
After failing to make entry on a first attempt, the men returned and succeeded on the second try, leaving the scene carrying a bag containing items taken from the flat.
Court outcome and penalties
Jack Tanbini, 30, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after admitting making threats to kill, forcing entry and taking property. The judge said there was no viable alternative to a custodial sentence.
Logan Hards, also 30, received a community-focused sentence: 24 months’ supervision and 180 hours of unpaid work. Hards, who has recently become a father, was allowed to leave court free on the basis of that non-custodial disposition.
- Incident date: 25 November 2024, Watson Street, Dundee.
- Offences admitted: making threats to kill, forcing entry, and theft from the flat.
- Sentences: Tanbini — 15 months custody; Hards — supervision (24 months) + 180 hours unpaid work.
The fiscal depute at Dundee Sheriff Court described how the pair arrived by car, went upstairs to a flat occupied by siblings and then launched the attack that was later played to the court.
Background on Tanbini and wider context
Tanbini first entered public attention as a teenager after winning about £100,000 on a scratchcard. He later told the court he had spent most of that windfall.
More recently, Tanbini was convicted in the High Court in 2025 for involvement in the supply of cocaine and sentenced to five years and five months; his projected release is toward the end of 2029. Earlier, in 2019, he admitted dangerous driving and possession of cannabis after being stopped by police.
His legal representative told the sheriff that the previous custodial sentence had been life-changing and that Tanbini had no prior record for violence.
Why this matters now
The case combines several issues that are currently in the public eye: the risks of violent reoffending, how sudden wealth is managed (or lost), and sentencing decisions that balance community protection with family impacts.
For readers in the area, the immediate consequence is clear: a violent break-in and credible threats were carried out at a residential address. For policymakers and criminal-justice observers, the case prompts questions about rehabilitation, supervision of known offenders and support for families affected by both crime and custodial sentences.
Key takeaways
- The defendants admitted the most serious allegations filmed on CCTV — including threats to kill and using petrol as a weapon.
- One defendant was given custody; the other received a community sentence, reflecting the court’s assessment of personal circumstances and impact on dependents.
- Tanbini’s past — a large teenage lottery win, subsequent criminal convictions and an active long-term prison sentence — forms an important part of the court’s picture of risk and culpability.
Those involved will remain subject to further legal and custodial arrangements: Tanbini while continuing to serve his longer sentence for drug offences, and Hards under supervision intended to prevent reoffending and protect the community.
Police and local authorities did not provide additional comment at sentencing; the court record and CCTV footage were primary evidence in the case against both men.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
