The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Crooks handled stolen goods from lorry heist
Court: Police inquiries led to stolen alcohol in vans at farm
Two men have admitted handling stolen goods after they were caught in possession of thousands of pounds worth of alcohol and furniture taken during a lorry heist at an Aberdeen haulage yard.
Guy Bandeen and Scott Morrison appeared at the city’s sheriff court yesterday and admitted dealing with the stolen property on May 18 last year.
The court heard officers had raided Logieburn Farm in Elgin on May 18 – three days after two articulated trucks were stolen from M&H Logistics at West Tullos Industrial Estate.
The vehicles were then emptied of all their cargo and dumped in a lay-by on the A97 near Gartly before being set alight. Following extensive investigations, police were led to the farm in Moray where they discovered two vans full of the stolen goods. Two containers inside the farmhouse were also found to contain more than £10,000 worth of illicit items.
Fiscal depute, Alan Townsend, said: “Police received intelligence through a tracking system on the vehicles that they had been parked on an unnamed road near the farmhouse.
“Effectively, the police, as a result of the information, received an evidential search warrant.
“Police executed the warrant and found two vans at the rear of the property with their engines running. The accused, Morrison and Bandeen, were standing beside one van. Police opened the rear of the vans and found large quantities of alcohol.
“Police officers entered the farmhouse and obtained keys which opened two storage containers within. They also contained large quantities of alcohol and furniture which had been taken from the stolen vehicles.” Mr Townsend said almost £20,000 worth of alcohol, alcohol kegs and soft drinks was recovered along with almost £11,000 worth of furniture.
Sheriff Graeme Napier deferred sentence on Bandeen, 24, of Logieburn Farm, Elgin, and Morrison, 32, of Auchinleck Road, Tillydrone, for background reports to be carried out.
They will return to court next month.
Jill Reid, 41, Alexander Henderson, 24, and John Stewart were also accused of being in possession of the stolen goods, but their not guilty pleas were accepted by the Crown.
Stewart did, however, admit to being in possession of a “nominal” amount of cannabis on May 18 last year and was fined £125.