Man jailed for stealing to start new business

Thief caught red-handed repainting and sanding off vehicle identification numbers from stolen Land Rovers

A man caught red-handed repainting stolen cars and sanding off their ID numbers using tools he had taken during a break-in did it “because he wanted to start his own legitimate motoring business”, a court heard.

Thomas Jamieson’s lawyer claimed he “may actually have improved” the look of the stolen Land Rovers – even though their owners “may not think he’s done them a favour”.

He was jailed for two-and-a-half years for the illicit enterprise after Dundee Sheriff Court was told yesterday Jamieson and an associate wanted to start their own car repair business.

Jamieson hired a lock up in Jamphlars Road, Cardenden, but lacking any tools he went to Castleblair Motors in nearby Dunfermline and broke in to steal £11,000 worth of high-end tools and diagnostic machines.

Two Land Rovers – stolen from a home in Edinburgh’s Marchmont Crescent and from a garage in Kinross – were brought to the site by Jamieson’s associate.

They then set about repainting the cars and sanded off the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told the court that when police raided the lock-up on May 5 this year they caught him sanding off one of the VIN numbers.

She said: “The total value of the tools stolen from the garage was £11,200 and the damage caused to shutters in the break-in was £500.

“The tools stolen were found in the lock-up. A search also found him in possession of £2,817 in cash.”

Jamieson, 33, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to two charges of reset, one of theft by housebreaking and two of attempting to defeat the ends of justice committed between April 10 and May 5 this year.

Defence solicitor David Bell said: “He says that the condition of the vehicles’ paintwork was not particularly good – and I’m not suggesting he’s done them a favour – but it may have actually improved the appearance through the work he has done.”

Sheriff Ian Anderson jailed Jamieson for a total of 30 months.

“... I’m not suggesting he’s done them a favour but it may have actually improved the appearance through the work he’s done