Men stole whisky from Tesco and Tyndrum worth thousands of pounds

TWO Lothian men have been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for shoplifting goods worth almost £2,500 from Tesco supermarket in Oban.

Both Kevin Magee, 45, of 30 Deerhill, Broxburn, and 42-year-old Iain Arthurs, who was living at the same address, pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol and groceries from the store at Lochavulin Drive, on July 23.

Procurator fiscal Eoin McGinty told Oban Sheriff Court last Wednesday (August 17) that police had observed a silver Renault Megane driven by Magee in Oban town centre on July 23, with Arthurs in the back seat and two more passengers.

‘Police became suspicious,’ Mr McGinty said, and following checks, ‘the vehicle was found to be involved in high-value thefts at supermarkets’.

He continued: ‘The Renault Megane was found parked outside the Tesco supermarket.’

Officers ‘saw both accused loading a large number of items from shopping bags into the back of the vehicle’ and, when confronted, Mr McGinty said, ‘the accused Magee said: “Fair enough. The motor’s full of stuff”.’

Mr McGinty coninued: ‘Arthurs made off, but was detained. The other two were nowhere to be seen.

‘The vehicle was full of premium spirits, mostly malt whiskies. Magee was cautioned and charged. He said: “It’s not bad for a day’s work”.’

Mr McGinty said the goods, worth £2,478 in total, were recovered.

Magee also admitted a further charge of stealing three bottles of whisky from the Green Welly Stop in Tyndrum on July 3. Mr McGinty said Magee was caught on CCTV helping himself to the whisky, worth a total of £1,946, which was not recovered.

Defending Magee, solicitor Alistair Burleigh acknowledged ‘there is a record’ but added the 45-yearold unemployed steel fixer, by then living on his own, ‘is anxious not to lose his private let tenancy. He does provide a lot of support to his wife and daughters’.

Laura McManus, defending Arthurs, asked Sheriff Ruth Anderson to afford him his liberty to comply with an existing drug treatment and testing order (DTTO).

She said: ‘He is still stabilising on his DTTO and he has unfortunately become involved in this case on July 23. He has no further need to shoplift because he is on his DTTO.’

Sheriff Anderson said: ‘Mr Magee, you have pled to two matters. Mr Arthurs you have pled to one matter. But I see no distinction.’

She sentenced each man to nine months’ imprisonment, with Magee’s starting on August 17, and Arthurs’s backdated to July 25.