Accies are on the ball with food donation
Shoplifter isjailed
A shoplifter who admitted 17 theft charges was jailed for 14 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week.
Ross Reynolds, 38, of Burnblea Gardens, Hamilton, targeted a string of shops in the town, including Marks and Spencer, Next, Tesco and Wilko, between January and May this year. The court heard that he struck three times in the space of four days in February at M&S, stealing clothing worth £1180, none of which was recovered.
Reynolds also admitted threatening or abusive behaviour towards family members in Pine Place, Hamilton, on April 30 and breaching bail by being in the company of an accomplice in Farm Road, Hamilton, on May 10.
Defence agent Jackson Bateman said his client has addiction issues, but pointed out that there had been a gap in his offending between 2013 and this year. He added: “Social workers believe a community payback order would benefit him.”
However, Sheriff Allan Mckay said he couldn’t ignore the number of charges and the “numerous” breaches of bail. He told Reynolds no sentence other than prison was appropriate.
Hamilton Accies hosted a children’s charity football festival in aid of the town’s foodbank.
The event, attended by around 500 youngsters from across Scotland, saw families donate nonperishable food items for Hamilton and District Foodbank, supported by the Trussell Trust.
And the club dropped off over a half-tonne of items to the charity last week.
Community coach Jason Mcculloch said: “Hamilton Academical FC have a long and well-established relationship with the Hamilton and District Foodbank, and we are delighted to support them.”
The foodbank, which opened in 2013, is a project founded by churches and community groups, working together towards stopping hunger in the area.
In the past year more than 8000 emergency food packs were given to desperate locals by Hamilton and District Foodbank.
The shocking figure – a stark increase on last year’s total of 5169 – was released by The Trussell Trust foodbank network.
Isobel Graham, the foodbank manager, said: “Over half a tonne of much-needed donations of non-perishable food and toiletries were donated and delivered to the foodbank by our local football club, Hamilton Accies.”
And she added: “A massive thank you to everyone who donated, and indeed to the club, for once again choosing to support the foodbank at this year’s children’s football tournament.”
Volunteers at the Hamilton foodbank say that 8083 threeday emergency food supplies were provided to people in crisis between April 2018 and March this year.
Sadly, 2768 children. of these went to
Generous supporters have contributed to the running of the foodbank by donating more than 69 tonnes of food over the past year.
Donations can be dropped off at the foodbank’s bases in Townhead Street, the Nazarene Hall in Blantyre and the Salvation Army centre on Burnblea Street.
Distribution centre opening times: The Nazarene Hall, Elm Street, Blantyre, Tuesday and Thursday, 11am till 2pm; 22 Townhead Street, Hamilton, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, noon till 2pm; and The Salvation Army, Burnblea Street, Hamilton, Monday, 11am till 2pm.
For more information, call the foodbank on 07884 451512 or email info@hamiltondistrict.foodbank. org.uk.