A Glenrothes thief used a stolen iPad to transfer thousands of pounds from its owner to his own bank account.
Jonathan Grimes found a backpack accidentally left at a bus stop by owner Nathan Mackie.
After ditching Mr Mackie’s passport, which was also in the bag, he used the tablet to steal the money to pay off drug debts.
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court he narrowly escaped a jail sentence after a sheriff heard he had stayed out of trouble since 2018.
Bank transfer
Fiscal depute Lauren Pennycook told the court the victim left his rucksack on the pavement after boarding a bus on Rothes Road, Glenrothes, on November 11 2021.
She said: “He realised in the bus and when he returned home he filled out an online missing items form on the Police Scotland website.
“The bag contained his passport, a flask, a pencil case and an iPad.
“On November 14 he logged into his online banking and observed a £2,000 pending transaction.
“Mr Mackie contacted police at this stage, as it was not him who made the transaction.
“The following day, he logged in again to his online banking and observed the transaction for £2,000 had been transferred into an account with the name of Grimes.”
Police contacted the bank and discovered the account belonged to the accused.
When arrested, Grimes told officers: “I found the bag and transferred the money into my bank account. I still owe the boy £500.”
When charged he said: “I’m sorry. I will try my best to never do it again to anyone.”
‘Opportunistic’ theft
Solicitor James McMackin, defending, said the crime was “opportunistic” – to which Sheriff John MacRitchie retorted: “It’s ridiculous to suggest it wasn’t planned.”
Mr MacMakin clarified taking the rucksack had been opportunistic.
“He was at a particularly low ebb in his life.
“He had his Universal Credit sanctioned.
“Some money was used – he used £800.
“This was for drug debts and to purchase cigarettes and food.”
Grimes, of Ivanhoe Drive, admitted theft by finding on Rothes Road on November 11 2021, and fraud at his home address on November 14.
Passport risk
Sheriff MacRitchie stopped short of jailing Grimes but warned a further offence could see him behind bars.
He said: “You have a history of being a thief and you’ve now turned to fraud.
“This is appalling conduct for which you appear to have shown little remorse for.
“I have no doubt whatsoever this was a planned incident in which you accessed someone’s iPad and used their banking facility.
“With as much hesitation as I can possibly muster, I am persuaded it can be dealt with by a restriction of liberty order.”
He added throwing away Mr Mackie’s passport could have had consequences if he had been a tourist on holiday, or become a victim of identity fraud.
Grimes was placed on a curfew meaning he must remain in his home between 7pm and 7am for eight months.
For the latest court cases across Tayside and Fife, join our Courts Facebook page.
