Six-month curfew for shoplifter

A sheriff has placed an Angus shoplifter on a 5.30pm to 5.30am home curfew after slamming his repeated thefts from local shops.

Craig Marshall appeared before Sheriff Robert Dickson at Forfar after previously admitting offences including stealing from Tesco in Montrose and offences at the Spar in Carnoustie High Street.

Marshall’s solicitor, Nick Markowski, said the 33-yearold, of Castle Street, Montrose, had underlying alcohol difficulties and a “chaotic” lifestyle, but had now secured his own tenancy for the first time in a year and hoped that would give him some stability.

“He was sent to prison in 2015 and 2016 for shoplifting,” he added.

“The rate of offending seems to have slowed, but he is still offending and is currently subject to a community payback order,” said Mr Markowski.

“Having his own tenancy is the one positive I can point to and he hopes to keep that.

Sheriff Dickson said: “He causes problems in shops, he steals things that don’t belong to him and he does it again when he is subject to the requirement of the court to co-operate.”

The sheriff imposed a restriction of liberty order which will see Marshall placed on an electronic tag for a sixmonth curfew period.

“If you hadn’t pled guilty at the very earliest opportunity you would have been going to prison for 12 months,” he said.