Designer lost out on £10k contract after thief stole laptop

An in-demand print designer missed out on a lucrative £10,000 contract after a drug-addled thief stole her laptop from a train.

The businesswoman was left counting the cost of trusting in the honesty of fellow passengers as she travelled between Edinburgh and Inverness.

Alan Beattie was spotted by multiple witnesses as he passed up and down the train hunting for easy pickings, eventually lifting the small black suitcase containing a £900 Apple Macbook Air the designer had just placed within a luggage rack.

The 29-year-old heroin addict timed his theft to coincide with the train’s arrival at his home station, alighting moments later at Pitlochry. His victim did not realise she had been robbed until the train arrived in Inverness.

Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney told Perth Sheriff Court: “The witness saw that her case was missing and reported the theft to a conductor at Inverness railway station.

“They contacted the British Transport Police and officers were soon carrying out CCTV inquiries, using footage from the train and stations along the route.

“The footage showed the accused alighting from the train at Pitlochry, carrying the small black trolley case belonging to the witness.

“He was seen to get into a waiting car and then disappear from sight.”

Beattie, of Dalchampaig Road in Pitlochry, admitted stealing a suitcase and contents on May 5.

Mr Sweeney said the loss to the owner had been more than the estimated £1,000 value of the case and contents.

“Due to being unable to carry out her work that day as a result of the theft, the witness believes she lost around £10,000 of revenue.”

Solicitor Cliff Culley said his client had been under the influence of drugs at the time and had little or no recollection of what happened.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said: “This is a matter that undoubtedly merits custody.”

He ordered Beattie to return to the court on December 20 and told him to be of good behaviour and bring £225 with him to begin paying compensation.