Man caught trying to steal alcohol from restaurant damaged by fire

A man caught attempting to steal alcohol from a fire-damaged Aberdeen restaurant has been given community service.

Marc Milne, 26, was found by police in Valentino’s on Carden Place weeks after the fire.

When he was searched officers found eight bottles of “fire-damaged” alcohol, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.

The building burnt down on December 23 2019 and was boarded up.

On February 4 2020 the manager of Valentino’s visited the building to meet insurance representatives.

Shortly after midnight on February 5, a neighbour called police after seeing torchlight in the building.

Fiscal depute Lewis Devoy said: “A neighbour was in her home address when she heard a crashing sound coming from the locus. She observed what she thought was torchlight.

“She contacted the police and officers and a police dog attended and saw the front door to the premises was open, the door appeared to have been forced.

“The accused was located and removed from the building. He was found to be in possession of alcohol in a rucksack – eight bottles that were all fire-damaged.”

Officers found a bottle of wine, six bottles of prosecco and a bottle of beer in Milne’s possession.

He pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol.

Defence agent Neil McRobert said Milne was “extremely drunk”.

He said: “His position is that initially he just wanted in for a look around but eventually some alcohol was taken.”

Sheriff Morag McLaughlin sentenced Milne, Gillespie Crescent, Aberdeen, to a community payback order with supervision for 12 months.

She ordered him to do 250 hours of unpaid work.

Marc Milne, right, stole from the ruins of Valentino’s.