Trainers stolen by thief

Retailparkincident

A supermarket night shift worker admitted stealing trainers and then wresting with cops in an East Kilbride retail park.

Greig Smith, 34, of Westwood Square, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted a charge of theft by shoplifting from the Nike store in Kingsgate Retail Park while on bail.

He also pled guilty to resisting arrest by struggling with two police officers.

The court heard that at around 4pm on February 12 police witnesses were in the retail park in relation to another matter.

Fiscal depute Emma Lambie said: “Police officers entered the car park adjacent to the Nike store. They saw the accused running out the store with two Nike boxes.

“Members of the public were trying to catch the officers’ attention and pointing at the accused. The two officers pursued the accused and he dropped the boxes and they grabbed him.

“He then began pulling his arms away and then making them rigid to try and stop handcuffs being applied and struggled violently with the police officers.”

The store confirmed two pairs of trainers worth £131 were taken from the store in their boxes without being paid for.

Smith’s defence lawyer told the court his client had stayed out of trouble for several years and had very much got his life back together.

But his partner had left him which left him in financial difficulties and he had taken alcohol and Valium on the day of the incident. Sentence was deferred for six months until October 18 for good behaviour.