Paramedic and nurse stole designer clothes and cosmetics

An Angus paramedic and children’s nurse were caught stealing £800 worth of designer clothes and cosmetics in a shoplifting spree, a court heard.

David Cox, 64, and his friend Rhona Findlay, 51, came under suspicion after he complained about one of the stores being too warm.

Staff in the Macarthur Glen Designer Outlet in Livingston, West Lothian, saw him “sweating profusely” and behaving oddly, the town’s JP Court was told. A shop assistant in the Cosmetic Company thought their behaviour was unusual because it wasn’t that hot in the shop.

A review of CCTV footage clearly showed the couple lifting items off the shelves and stuffing them in bags. Police were called and a search of the pair’s belongings uncovered goods that had been stolen from several shops in the centre.

Cox, a paramedic from Arbroath, and Findlay, a children’s nurse from Monifieth, were due to stand trial yesterday after initially denying six counts of shoplifting.

At the last minute they changed their pleas to guilty on three charges of stealing from the Cosmetic Company, Weird Fish Clothing and Skechers shoe store on September 23.

The goods were valued at a total of £822, the court heard, and all were recovered.

Lawyers asked for the pair to be given absolute discharges because the convictions risked ruining their careers.

Justice of the Peace Sue Cook called for background reports from criminal justice social work teams on each of the accused and deferred sentence until April 18.