Man stole from his employer

Metal goods exchanged for cash

A Strathaven man stole metal equipment worth tens of thousands of pounds while working as a storeman at a Lanarkshire oil and gas specialist.

Dugald Mccarrison, of Viewmount Crescent, had sold the equipment on for scrap for much less than its actual value.

The 47-year-old had admitted a charge of stealing a quantity of engineered equipment known as stems and associated materials at Valve Components Ltd in Kelvin Park South in East Kilbride between March 13 and August 7, 2015.

Fiscal depute Michael Mackintosh told Hamilton Sheriff Court last Friday Mccarrison had been employed as a storeman with the oil and gas specialists.

A stock check had been carried out by a manager on August 4, 2015, which discovered that specialist engineering items were missing.

CCTV footage revealed these items had been delivered on July 13, 2015, after which no further record was held for them.

Mr Mackintosh said the discovery led to another stock check which found that 70 stems were missing.

The stems, explained the fiscal depute, were specialist made-toorder items costing between £1000 and £1500 each.

When the matter was brought to the attention of senior staff police were contacted.

CCTV footage was reviewed showing the accused on four separate occasions carrying heavy items and putting them into his own vehicle.

Scrap metal dealerships were contacted.

One particular scrap metal dealer had a number of stems in stock.

Eleven stems were identified from their serial numbers as being from the store room. These stems were returned to the company.

Mccarrison was detained and taken to a police office for interview. He admitted that he had stolen stems and associated metal fittings.

The director of the company reported additional losses of £1500 per stem. The scrap value of the stems was £200 each, significantly less than the actual value.

No other stems were found in the scrap yard.

The loss of value to the company was estimated as between £70,000 to £100,000.

Mccarrison’s lawyer told Sheriff Thomas Millar her client disputed the amount of stems taken. However, the Crown did not accept a lower figure and a proof in mitigation was set for August 12.