Agriculture boss set up video sting to snare thief

Arural thief was brought to justice thanks to an undercover sting operation organised by his victim.

Davidson Kerr-Wilson was caught on a hidden camera trying to sell more than £7,000 worth of chainsaws and accessories he’d earlier snatched from a Banff firm.

Kerr-Wilson stole the items from Robertson Forestry and Agriculture after scoping out the premises during an earlier failed job trial.

Fiscal depute Ellen Barr told Banff Sheriff Court he had “helped himself to the items” on September 23 last year after being given access to the shed during his earlier work trial.

Kerr-Wilson, 21, of Knock View, Cornhill, admitted theft by housebreaking at the trial diet. His defence agent Stuart Beveridge said he was “struggling financially” at the time and was “desperate” to try to help his family.

“He sold the items for far less than they were worth,” he said.

“It all backfired as he is now blacklisted across the whole farming area because he cannot be trusted. He’s now out of work.”

Sheriff Robert Frazer warned him jail was a possibility but “stopped short” of that and instead handed him an 18-month supervision order and ordered him to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

Speaking after the case, Robertson Forestry owner Rob Roberston said he had to snare Kerr-Wilson himself because he was “fed up of getting nowhere” with the police.

A police appeal following the theft was widely shared online, with investigating officer PC Casey Conner stating rural crime was a “priority” for the force.

After the chainsaws were stolen, Mr Robertson posted photos online of what was missing and was soon contacted by someone who had been offered the tools.

“I asked what he was called and I said ‘that’s him’,” he said.

“I asked, if he was agreeable, would he agree to buy them and film him handing them over and taking the money?

“Then I would reimburse him and hand the footage to the police.”

The plan worked and Kerr-Wilson was caught red-handed.

Mr Robertson said he thinks Kerr-Wilson was

It all backfired as he is now blacklisted across the whole farming area because he cannot be trusted

“never really interested” in gaining a job, but instead was scouting the place out.

“The worst thing was I spent a day-and-a-half with him showing him what he had to do,” he said.

“I suspect he was never really interested in a job and it was just an excuse to have a look around and see what was there.

“You are not going to get a job if you start ripping off the people you’re trying to work for,” he added.

“That’s never going to work out very well.”

Mr Robertson said he was disappointed with the punishment handed out by the sheriff.

“I was hoping he was going to get slightly more than that,” Mr Robertson said. “It’s not much of a disincentive for him not to do it again.”

SENTENCED: Equipment thief Davidson Kerr-Wilson, 21, was spared jail by the sheriff when he appeared at Banff Sheriff Court yesterday.