Angus man jailed for stealing meat the same day as being bailed

An Angus man was sent to prison for 200 days after stealing meat from an Arbroath shop on the same day he was granted bail for a previous offence.

James Finnan, 38, of Newton Avenue, Arbroath, appeared from custody at the town’s sheriff court on Monday where he admitted stealing a quantity of meat from the Co-op at the Abbeygate Centre on October 1, having just been granted bail from the same court on the same day.

He admitted breaching that bail and also admitted stealing a children’s play set from the Abbeygate on October 6, which was also in breach of the bail granted on October 1.

Finnan’s defence agent said his client had been suffering from problems associated with drug dependency and that he had only a “vague recollection” of being at court previously on October 1.

Sheriff John Rafferty told Finnan: “The gravity of this matter is increased because of your record and because it was on the day you were granted bail.

“However, there is no way of dealing with this other than with a custodial sentence.”

Finnan was given 80 days of the 200-day sentence for breaching his bail conditions.