A teenage Angus thief who provoked a town’s fury with a chip shop charity box theft has avoided jail after surprising a sheriff by managing to stay out of more bother.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, took the RNLI collection tin from the counter of the Marina chippie in Arbroath’s Ladybridge Street in June.
The youth later admitted the June 3 theft, and breaching bail later that month by failing to register at Arbroath police office.
He was given a chance to behave after the court heard the teenager was living a chaotic life without any family support.
The accused’s solicitor told Forfar Sheriff Court his client had complied with a bail curfew and the conditions of a high tariff deferred sentence.
“He knows this is the sort of offence which would put someone’s liberty at risk and he made a very poor start to the community order, but is now making progress,” said lawyer Nick Markowski.
“He is on the cusp of going to college, is doing voluntary work and is about to move out of supported accommodation.”
The RNLI collection tin contained a low sum of cash and was found broken to pieces nearby.
The court heard the damage to the chip shop window was around £300.
Sheriff Gregor Murray told the youth: “It’s incumbent to explain why I am not sending you to custody for an offence which manifestly justifies you going to jail.
“Your life was in an absolute shambolic mess and you were heading to jail at a rapid rate,” added the sheriff.
“To your credit, you have confounded all my expectations in the past six months.
The teenager was placed on a community payback order and must carry out 140 hours unpaid work.
