The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Court: Custody ‘improper’ because goods not accurately valued
A disgraced delivery driver has been spared prison for stealing Christmas presents – because investigators couldn’t work out the true value of the items he took.
Gambling addict Robert Brown admitted embezzling £370 worth of goods while working for UPS over the festive period.
But when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court for sentencing yesterday, Sheriff Phillip Mann indicated the overall value of the items was likely to be “considerably higher”.
Sheriff Mann said the offence warranted a jail term but he could not send Brown to prison based on “speculation” and instead ordered him to perform 200 hours of unpaid work.
The 29-year-old was tasked with making deliveries and assigning items to others for delivery while working at the Nigg depot.
The court heard bosses became suspicious when several packages in his charge were not delivered.
Brown was followed after leaving the site with parcels in his van last December and instead of doing his rounds, drove home.
He called in sick the next day but three days later his employers tailed him again and he repeated his actions.
That time his superiors spoke to him and, after finding five parcels in the van, called the police.
Using a search warrant, officers then searched Brown’s home, where they discovered further parcels.
Brown, of Alexander Terrace in Aberdeen, admitted embezzling parcels from UPS on “various occasions” between November 20 and December 18.
Yesterday, defence agent Alex Burn said his client was a gambling addict and had been attempting to pay off £14,000 of debt. He added that Brown is seeking help for his problems.
Sheriff Mann said Brown’s conduct warranted a stint in prison, adding: “The only value the Crown can give me is £370, but I’m convinced
“I can’t tell how serious it was without speculating”
the result of your crime was much more serious.
“I can’t tell how serious it was without speculating though and it is not for me to do so.
“It would be improper for me to sentence you to custody based on such speculation though I’m pretty sure the items involved here are worth considerably more than £370.”
Brown will also remain under the supervision of social workers for a year.
A UPS spokeswoman said: “The actions of this individual are not representative of our company and we have strong safeguards in place to detect and prevent theft.”