A devastated Angus businessman has slammed authorities over the “soft touch” justice meted out to a thief who stole cherished family mementos.
Dundee man John McGrandle will spend up to 10 months in Perth Prison for breaking in to Barrie Ewart’s autosales business in Kirriemuir.
McGrandle stole almost £6,000 worth of items from Mr Ewart’s showroom with no recovery by the authorities.
But, more vitally to Mr Ewart, treasured reminders of his late parents disappeared without trace.
He has criticised the legal system for “letting him down” and called for the convicted thief to hand back precious items.
“The police and court system is being made a fool of by criminals like McGrandle,” he said.
He added: “As the victim of this crime I have been left without personal items reminders of my dead parents which are dear to me but stolen and never recovered from these men.
“This crime has a knock-on effect where I can no longer pass the stolen articles down to my children, and the judicial system has let me down.”
McGrandle, formerly of Nithsdale Avenue in Dundee, removed a pane of glass from an external door before he ransacked the business on February 5 this year.
The 22-year-old was quickly identified by police through CCTV footage but the legal process was delayed due to a not guilty plea from his co-accused.
That plea was eventually accepted by the Crown on Thursday and McGrandle appeared from custody at Forfar Sheriff Court, facing an indictment alleging he broke into the showroom and stole jewellery and watches, MP3 players, mobile phones, cigarettes and other items.
However, no explicit mention was made in court papers of Mr Ewart’s personal effects which he said are of greater worth than the other goods which were stolen.
Sheriff Pino di Emidio sentenced McGrandle to 10 months’ imprisonment, reduced from 15 months due to an early plea.
Mr Ewart, who runs the Lindsay Street used car dealership and petrol station with his son Bruce, said: “It is, to say the least, disappointing that this thief has not returned or disclosed the whereabouts of any of my goods and yet has had his sentence reduced for pleading guilty at an early stage.”
He was called as a witness on October 16 only for the trial to be postponed, and said he was barely informed of any development since.
He said: “McGrandle and his accomplice broke into my place of work in February and stole a lot of my personal items from a drawer in my desk.
“I have been poorly informed about the progress of the police inquiry into this incident and feel that at least the confessed thief should be forced to return my possessions before being allowed out of jail. £6,000 worth of goods for 10 months in jail £600 per month is the payment for this crime.”
The Crown Office said it had prosecuted the case with all due seriousness but the disposal was ultimately at the court’s discretion.