A former night manager who stole from his employers while under the influence of drink and drugs has been spared jail.
William Baillie was sentenced to 240 hours of community service after admitting stealing £1,450 in cash from the Atholl Arms Hotel in Dunkeld between October 25 and 26 last year.
He further admitted that on October 26 2010, at the hotel, he fraudulently obtained £600 from Groves Hotels Ltd by presenting a card of which he pretended to be the owner.
The court heard Baillie had been given a ”position of trust” in the hotel and had access to the safe.
Defence solicitor David Storie said at the time of the offence his client had a problem with opiates, cocaine and alcohol however, he added that Baillie deeply regretted the incident and had since ”completely turned his life around”.
Over the previous year he has paid back nearly £1,000 of the stolen sum.
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson also explained that the £600 obtained by fraud remained in the 38-year-old’s account, which was frozen upon his arrest.
Mr Richardson added that as part of a Suspended Sentence Order for a similar offence south of the border, Baillie had been placed on a successful drug and alcohol programme.
The court was told that since the early 1990s Baillie had been convicted of nine thefts and one burglary with intent in England.
Sentencing at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Sheriff Michael Fletcher said: ”You have a considerable record for crimes of dishonesty and this was significant as it was a breach of trust.
”Custody was very much at the top of the list, but I have taken into account the way the English courts have dealt with a case where the amount was considerably more, and the progress you have been making.
”Therefore, I believe it is now inappropriate to deal with this by means of a custodial term and will instead impose a period of community service.”
As well as carrying out 240 hours of unpaid work in the community, Baillie, who currently works as a caretaker, was also ordered to pay back the remaining £939 at the rate of £50 per week.