Man fined for theft

Mar 4 2010 West Lothian Courier

A LIVINSTON man was fined £200 for stealing a £3 bottle of cider.

And Ian Angus was warned that if he missed a single payment of the fine he would serve a prison sentence because of his previous convictions for similar offences.

Fiscal depute Claire Martin told Livingston Sheriff Court that Angus had been spotted crouching down in the alcohol aisle by staff in the Co-op in Newyearfield, Livingston on October 22 last year.

The 22-year-old appeared to have something under his jumper and he left the store without paying for anything. A check of CCTV revealed Angus had stolen a bottle of cider worth £2.99.

Last week Angus, whose address was given as Deanswood Park, Livingston, pleaded guilty to the theft.

His solicitor, Alan Jackson, told the court his client was on probation at the time of the offence.

“He has analogous convictions which led to a spell in custody in 2008,” Mr Jackson added.

“He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and it was a bottle worth £2.99. It was an opportunistic crime. He has put himself in a difficult position as he is on a probation order.”

Fining Angus £200 Sheriff Douglas Kinloch said: “This is another conviction for shoplifting so yo will not stop stealing. I have got to find what the best way is to stop you stealing.

“Probation does not seem to be the answer as you were on it when you stole this.

“Pretty much the choice is between a fine and a prison sentence. It is only because the value of the goods you stole was £2.99 that it will be a fine in this case. Because of your bad record it will be £200 and if you miss a single installment you will serve a prison sentence of seven days as the alternative.”