An Angus heroin dealer who broke open a car wash to steal its contents has been returned to prison.
On Thursday, at Forfar Sheriff Court, Paul Hosie, of Glenclova Terrace, Forfar, was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment after he was caught on CCTV stealing money from a cash box in the town.
Depute fiscal Saima Rasheed told the court a witness had been working at Motech Castle Garage in Victoria Street on June 8 when they discovered the box that had been forced open.
She said: “CCTV showed the two accused forcing open the machine and removing coins from inside. The accused, Hosie, was not at his address when a search was carried out, but in his bedroom a bag of coins was located.”
A total of £160 was stolen, but only £132.10 was recovered.
The 27-year-old faced a further charge of possession of 1.3g of heroin, said to have a potential street value of £135, when he was searched in relation to another matter on May 3 2012. He had also at a previous trial been found guilty of supplying heroin on August 8 2012, and he was sentenced for that offence.
Defence agent Bob Bruce told the court Hosie had been in custody for more than 18 months, completed unpaid work and been subject to a curfew.
He added Hosie has been drug free since his last incarceration and he is also keen to train as a mechanic so he could get off benefits.
Sheriff Marion McDonald told Hosie she had taken into account the time he had already spent in custody, but said she had no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.
She sentenced him to five months for the three offences. Hosie appeared with co-accused, James McKelvie, 24, of Wellbraehead, Forfar, who is serving a sentence for another matter.
Both men were charged with theft from a coin-operated car wash on June 8. McKelvie’s case was deferred until his release date and he will appear before the court again on October 24.