Oban man found guilty of stealing £400

An Oban man has been found guilty of stealing £400 from his friend.

Jordan Andrew Kelso of 19 Colonsay Terrace, Oban, denied the offence when he appeared in Oban Sheriff Court on Monday January 13.

However, after a trial, Sheriff Patrick Hughes found the 22-year-old guilty.

The court heard that Kelso was drinking and playing pool at a friend’s house with one other on September 15, 2018.

The friend showed them his savings of between £400 and £500, which he kept in his sock drawer in a travel wallet, but when he woke up the next day, the money was missing.

Procurator fiscal David Glancy argued that there would have been times throughout the night that Kelso was on his own in the house.

A witness also said they had seen Kelso in a public house holding more than £50 in notes, while in Kelso’s police interview he indicated he only had ‘£20 to £30 on him’.

The court also heard that when confronted by the complainer and the other friend, Kelso denied taking the money but offered to pay it back in a bid to save the friendship.

Mr Glancy said considering all the evidence, it ‘forms a compelling case against the accused’.

In Kelso’s defence, his solicitor Jane McLaren argued that there was significant differences between the two main witnesses’ evidence, such as the timing of when they left the room to go and play pool.

Mrs McLaren also stated that the witnesses did not see him take the wallet, or conceal anything when they walked to the venue.

She said there was not a special defence of incrimination, but the other friend went back to the bedroom at points and there were other occupants in the house.

She also said that her client offered to repay the money because he did not want to lose the friendship. She stated that when he was confronted, he was shocked and angry, but also did not want the trouble of the police coming to his house.

Sheriff Hughes said he found the witnesses to be credible and reliable, and found Kelso guilty.

He deferred sentencing until February 13 in order for the court to obtain background reports.