Breaching tagging order lands man in jail

Sep 9 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A MAN who was electronically tagged after he broke into a water treatment plant in East Calder has been jailed after breaching his restriction of liberty order.

Shaun Forrest targeted the water purification site operated by Veolia Water on April 3 last year.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard that staff at the plant turned up for work at 8am and found the padlock on the main gates had been forced off and a first floor window at the main building had also been smashed.

Staff discovered that the administration block in the building had been ransacked and the filing cabinets had been rifled through. A fingerprint impression was found at the scene and Forrest was later traced by police.

Forrest, whose address was given as Todshill Road, Kirkliston, was tagged for six months by Sheriff Douglas Kinloch in January this year after he pled guilty to breaking into the water treatment plant with intent to steal.

However, the 21-year-old was back in court last week after he admitted breaking his curfew.

His solicitor, Mr Clark, told the court his client had been handed a four-month prison sentence at the beginning of August.

“Given that he is now serving a custodial sentence I think there is very little option of what can be done today,” he added.

“I would ask my Lord to give him a sentence that will not affect his release date.”

Sheriff Kinloch fined Forrest £300 for the breach of his order and as he sought no time to pay the fine he was given the alternative of a 14-day imprisonment.