Scales of justice weigh down on Arbroath man smoked out during haddock heist

An Arbroath man who broke into a fish merchant wearing an apron and rubber gloves while high on drugs to “smoke himself some haddock” has been jailed for eight months.

Frankie Melvin’s failed attempt to get a late dinner was “more of a farce than anything else,” said defence agent Gary McIlravey.

Appearing from custody, Melvin (25), of the High Street, admitted that on June 16 at B. and A. Swankie Fish Merchants, East Mary Street, he climbed the perimeter wall of the yard, smashed windows in the doors and tried to break the padlock securing, thus attempting to break in with intent to steal.

Depute fiscal Hazel Anderson said Melvin was “heavily under the influence of something” when he was discovered in the yard at 8.30pm and police were called.

Mr McIlravey said, “His intention was to go in and smoke himself some haddock. It was more of a farce than anything else.”

Sheriff Derek Pyle told Melvin, “You’ve got a dreadful record,” before sentencing him to eight months in jail, backdated to June 20.