Pair stole items from boss’s ‘Aladdin’s cave’

Man roped in friend to help steal more than £1,000 of belongings from former Alyth church

A man stole from his employer’s “Aladdin’s cave” in a disused church, before boasting of the theft to a colleague.

Darren Clunie roped in friend Scott Glover, 28, to raid the former Barony Church in Alyth.

They made off with more than £1,000 of equipment and caused more than £400 in damage to the door.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that the building’s owner was storing his personal possessions there while awaiting planning permission to turn it into affordable homes.

Depute fiscal Tina Dickie told the court that Clunie, 20, was employed by a removal firm run by the church owner.

She said: “On August 22 he employed Clunie on the recommendation of one of his employees and took him on as a furniture porter.

“During the course of that, witness Alexander (a fellow employee) was working with Clunie and a conversation took place regarding the Barony Church.

“The accused was advised that it was owned by their boss, who was using it for storage for his personal belongings.

“On August 26 witness Alexander was again working with the accused when he (Clunie) divulged to him that he had gained entry into the Barony Church.

“He said he had called his friend Scott Glover who had assisted him in removing the stolen items.”

Solicitor Steve Lafferty, defending, said Clunie had committed a “considerable own goal”.

“He appreciates this is a breach of trust,” he said.

Clunie, of Ashgrove Terrace, Rattray, and Glover, of Leighton’s Square, Alyth, admitted stealing an LED bulb, strobe controller and cables, smoke machine, CD player and a drum kit from the former Barony Church in Alyth between August 5 and 31 last year.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said it had been a “breach of trust” to break into the “Aladdin’s cave of stuff”.

He ordered both men to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. In addition, Clunie was made the subject of a nine-month supervision order and ordered to pay £420 in compensation.

The Barony Church was originally built as the Alyth Free Church in 1843.

It is currently the subject of a planning application, with the owner seeking to turn it into an outdoor pursuits shop.

The accused was advised thatitwas owned by their boss, who was using it for storage for his personal belongings. TINA DICKIE DEPUTE FISCAL