Court casebook

Feb 24 2010 Airdrie & Coatbridge

A SHOPLIFTER who stole jackets worth £84 was left out of pocket when a sheriff ordered him to pay compensation to a Coatbridge store.

Patrick Flannagan (42) of the town’s Colonsay Crescent, nicked the items from Peacock Stores in Main Street on October 4 last year.

He was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of community service when he appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court last Wednesday.

The sheriff court was told that shop staff saw the accused acting suspiciously within the store at around 3.30pm.

Staff then found empty hangers where ladies leatherette jackets should have been.

CCTV footage was examined by the staff and police and Flannagan was identified as the thief.

He told police later that he needed money for drink.

However, Airdrie Sheriff Court heard that the accused’s problems stemmed from hard drugs and not alcohol.

Acknowledging that his client had a “horrendous list of previous convictions,” defence lawyer Martin Hughes said: “I don’t know why he told the police that he needed money for drink.

“Without exception, every single previous conviction he has been connected with has involved drug abuse.

“Drink has never been his problem, it has always been heroin.

“I think he said the first thing that came into his head when he was questioned by police.”

Sheriff Morag Galbraith heard that the goods taken from the store had not been recovered.

The sheriff ordered Flannagan to fork out £100 in compensation to the store, which she said could be paid at £10 per week.

The sheriff told the accused that she could have jailed him in light of his past record, but she issued a community service order instead.

However, Sheriff Galbraith warned the accused: “I’ll give you a chance but don’t blow it.”

A THUG who admitted assaulting a police officer in Stirling Street, Airdrie, had his sentence deferred for background reports when he appeared at the sheriff court.

Paul Luxton of Stanhope Place, Wishaw, pleaded guilty to two offences which were carried out on July 11 last year.

The first charge admitted by Luxton concerned conducting himself in a disorderly manner, shouting and swearing and committing a breach of the peace while refusing to “comply with lawful instructions from police officers”.

Luxton also admitted going on to assault a police officer during the Stirling Street fracas.

Sheriff Morag Galbraith ordered Luxton to appear back at Airdrie Sheriff Court on March 17.

The sheriff also requested background reports to be prepared for her consideration.

A COMPUTER thief was warned he would go to jail if he breached a new community service order imposed by the sheriff court.

Kevin Gormley, of Lomond Road, Coatbridge, told the court that he had failed to carry out a previous order because of shift patterns at his work, which gave him “virtually no free time”.

Gormley was put on community service for breaking into Ward 1 Room B of the Dialysis Unit at Monklands Hospital and stealing two computers.

He was back at Airdrie Sheriff Court last Wednesday – his 24th birthday – to hear his fate.

Sheriff Morag Galbraith revoked the original order and issued and new order of 100 hours of community service and 18 months probation.

“If that’s not completed then you will definitely be going to prison,” she told Gormley.

A WOMAN who tried to avoid paying the fare in a taxi to Airdrie was warned by a sheriff to stop offending or face the consequences.

Lauren Barr (22) from Wishaw appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court for trying to skip paying the £18 fee she was due.

The sheriff court heard that Barr committed the offence while on bail and that she had also breached a curfew.

Sheriff Galbraith deferred sentence on both matters for a supplementary social enquiry report and ordered the accused to be of good behaviour.

Referring to an unfavourable report, the sheriff said: “There must be no further offending.”

A DRUG user who was caught “shooting up” behind a Coatbridge shop was put on probation for two years when he appeared at the court.

Sean O’Byrne of the town’s Dunbeth Court pleaded guilty to lowering his trousers and injecting his leg with a syringe at the rear of Klick in St John Street on July 2 last year.

After putting the accused on probation, Sheriff Morag Galbraith said: “If you don’t complete the probation and it is breached and you come before me then you will go to prison.”

O’Byrne was told he must also attend drug counselling when requested to by his supervising officer.

A COATBRIDGE man was put on probation for trying to steal copper pipes to help feed his drink habit.

Stephen McKee (41) of Mossneuk Street was found repeatedly pulling on a length of pipe on Whifflet Street on August 11 last year.

He committed the offence while on bail.

Defence lawyer Rowan Myles said: “He craves alcohol so much he simply needs it to function. He needs to address his alcohol addiction.”

Sheriff Morag Galbraith put McKee on probation for 18 months and ordered him to attend addiction services.

McKee was admonished for the breach of bail.