Sobering day for booze thieves

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Two men who were caught on CCTV stealing booze from an off-licence have been dealt with in court.

Brendan Michael Beech (24) and Aiden Karelia (21) targeted the After-8 store on Dumbarton Road, Stirling, on September 5.

The duo, who were intoxicated at the time and looking to continue their drinking, got their hands on £35.94 worth of alcohol. There was no recovery. Representing Beech, whose address was given as Stirling Council Homeless Unit, defence solicitor Frazer McCready said: “He has little recollection of this offence.

“The alcohol was stolen to continue their consumption and not to sell on.

“He has ongoing difficulties with alcohol and clearly would benefit from a community payback order.”

In addition to his part in the alcohol theft, Karelia, of Edward Street in Dunblane, went on to breach bail conditions on November 3 by failing to remain within his specified address between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

He also resisted, obstructed or hindered three police officers before refusing to enter a police vehicle at Wellgreen.

And he then struggled violently with the officers causing one to fall to the ground and suffer an injury.

Fiscal depute Lindsey Brooks said: “It was around midnight and the accused was seen at the locus by police. He was seen going into a takeaway and he was arrested for breach of bail.”

The court heard that Karelia then began to struggle with police. One officer was left with a grazed knee and pain to his elbow.

Speaking on Karelia’s behalf, Mr McCready added: “He is aware that he is on the brink of custody, but I would ask Your Lordship to consider an alternative.

“He was intoxicated, misjudged the time and then had difficulty getting money so he could get back to his property.

“He didn’t take kindly to getting a telling and he reacted. “He tells me he regrets this.” Karelia was jailed for a period of four months with his sentence backdated to November 6 when he first appeared in custody.

Beech was placed under supervision for 12 months and ordered to pay £35.94 in compensation.

The alcohol was stolen to continue their consumption, not to sell on