A pair of “ridiculous” thieves who stole lobsters while they were “on a jolly” at Arbroath Harbour were sentenced at Forfar Sheriff Court.
Arbroath men Raymond Johnston and Jamie Mitchell swiped cages full of lobsters that were hanging in the waters of the town’s harbour on two occasions in October last year.
They made off with the valuable haul on their bikes, but were caught on harbour CCTV.
Johnston, 29, of Millgate Loan, and 17-year-old Mitchell, of Stoneycroft Lane, previously admitted two charges of stealing lobsters from Arbroath Harbour on October 10 and 13.
The court previously heard it was normal practice among fishermen to leave the live lobsters submerged in a cage at the harbour to keep them fresh for sale. The value of the stolen lobsters was put at £140.
Defence agent Nick Whelan, representing Johnston, said: “The theft was ridiculous and done on the spur of the moment after they had gone on a jolly to the harbour.”
He said Johnstone had problems with drugs and alcohol and was now on a methadone prescription. Mr Whelan added that his client’s rate of offending had significantly decreased.
Mitchell’s agent Billy Rennie said his client was a first offender but did acknowledge he had other court matters outstanding.
Turning to Johnston, Sheriff Gregor Murray said: “I accept your rate of offending has diminished after the release from your last (prison) sentence.
“You have an appalling record but I am persuaded there is an alternative to custody. I order you to do 200 hours of unpaid work, reduced from 300 hours because of your early plea.”
Addressing Mitchell he said: “You have almost no record and this may be an isolated incident”. He placed Mitchell on a low tariff structured deferred sentence for three months.
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