A Buckhaven paedophile who made up a story about being attacked and robbed after throwing his laptop in a bin has been jailed for 20 weeks.
Andrew Robertson, 49, who was previously convicted of possessing indecent images of children, wasted police time by concocting a story that he had been attacked by thieves who stole the device.
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Sheriff Alastair Thornton said he had no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.
“This was a significant offence of wasting police time by making false representations to them and rendering the lieges liable to suspicion,” said the sheriff.
The court heard Robertson, of Eagle Road, had breached a community payback order and in March Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist had revoked the order and sentenced him to 30 days imprisonment.
Sheriff Thornton told Robertson he would not face further time in jail for disposing of the laptop.
He said: “The issue of the consequences of wasting police time through the disposal of the laptop and the authorities being unable to check the device, it’s clear to me that has probably been addressed as part of the breach order and resulting custodial sentence imposed by Sheriff Gilchrist.”
Robertson admitted that on February 16 at his home and at Levenmouth Police Station he made a false representation to a police constable and sergeant.
An investigation was launched into his allegation that two men had struck him from behind and made off with his laptop and bag.
However, officers became suspicious as Robertson appeared very nervous and his account of the incident changed.
He later admitted he had thrown the computer in a bin in Edinburgh.
After confessing, he told police that he regretted making the accusation and felt guilty that he had wasted the force’s time.
He was made subject of a supervision order and placed on the sex offenders register after his conviction for possessing indecent photographs or pseudophotographs of children between January 2013 and March 2014.
