A man who helped steal more than £16,000 worth of motorbikes from a specialist Fife garage was caught when his liveried hire van was spotted on CCTV.
Brian Taylor rented a vehicle from Shorts Self Drive in Dalkeith and used it when he and a gang targeted Marshall’s Motorcycles in Dunfermline.
Among the machines taken by the 34-year-old was a Honda valued at £10,000.
Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard Taylor had hired the van the evening before, telling staff he needed to move some beds.
Fiscal depute Lauren Pennycook said the owner of the repair shop reviewed CCTV following the theft and saw a number of males approaching the business.
She said: “A few minutes later two males again approached the garage and wheeled the bikes out of the property.
“These were a Honda valued at £10,000, which was not recovered, an orange and black bike valued at £3,000, which was not recovered and a Suzuki valued at £3,000, which was also not recovered.
“The fourth bike was recovered.
“Mr Taylor was cautioned and charged after being identified from CCTV.”
Acted under intimidation claim
Taylor’s defence agent said he was not aware of the plans for the heist when he agreed to hire the van.
He said: “Mr Taylor is aware that this is a serious charge.
“He was traced because the vehicle he hired was identified on CCTV.
“While he agreed to hire the vehicle he wasn’t aware of what was going to take place.
“He became aware and didn’t disassociate himself from it – he was intimidated by others.
“He wasn’t particularly difficult to take advantage of.
“He had fallen into this crowd and thought they were his friends.
“He’s ashamed, disgusted and remorseful.
“I asked about any financial reward he had received and he said no reward was discussed.
“Once he had outlived his usefulness I suspect there would have been no reward.”
‘Summary justice’ following theft
He added Taylor had received “summary justice” from a group of men following the theft.
Taylor, of Woodburn Drive, Dunfermline, admitted breaking in to Marshall Motorcycles, Dunfermline on April 14 last year and stealing four motorbikes.
Sheriff William Gilchrist warned him that he could have gone to prison.
He said: “Given the value of the items the court would be entitled to impose a custodial sentence.
“It’s with some hesitation that I do not do so.”
He placed him on a 12-month supervision order and a six-month curfew.
