Theft claims turned out to be pack of lies
A twisted yob wasted police time by falsely accusing his ex-partner of stealing his motor.
Tanked- up Cal Dallas, 27, claimed Evelyn Smith had nicked his Ford Kuga and was driving it without insurance.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Dallas made the claims after Miss Smith, who is the mother of his child, noticed he was drunk and took his car keys from him on March 3.
Shame-faced Dallas appeared in the dock this week, where he pleaded guilty to charges of falsely reporting that his car had been stolen to police, causing officers to devote time and resources investigating an offence he knew to be untrue.
Fiscal depute Margaret McCallum said: “At 6.45pm, the accused contacted police stating his ex-partner Evelyn Smith had taken his vehicle and was driving it without insurance.
“Police attended the locus at 8pm on the same evening and saw the vehicle which had been reported stolen within the driveway. Officers found it hadn’t been moved for some time as the bonnet was cold.
“They made inquiries at the given address and spoke to the parents of the accused.
“They found the accused had left the locus after his car keys had been removed from him by Miss Smith because he was under the influence.”
The fiscal added that cops continued their inquiries and contacted Dallas on his mobile phone, where he appeared “hostile”, “under the influence” and “refused to divulge his whereabouts”.
She added: “The following day, when police attended his address, he was extremely apologetic about making the call.
“He also confirmed he hadn’t seen Miss Smith driving the vehicle. He was cautioned and charged.”
Defence agent Tony Callahan said his client “deeply regrets” his actions.
He said: “He resides with his parents and has a 15-month-old child with his ex-partner.
“The incident occurred earlier this year when their relationship was failing.
“Drink had been taken. An argument developed. She took the car keys and he took it upon himself to phone the police. He deeply regrets his actions. They were wholly inappropriate.”
Sheriff Seith Ireland agreed with the lawyer and tore a strip off the accused for wasting both police time and public resources.
He said: “This is a serious matter as police are there look into matters brought to them by members of the public.
“This was a waste of police time paid for out of the public purse because of your false report.”
He handed Dallas, of Laxford Road, Erskine, a £520 fine, reduced from £600, because he pleaded guilty before the case went to trial.