A hapless pair who tried to make a fast buck were caught out as they tried to sell copper one had stolen hours earlier.
Jessie Hendry and Khaya Ghekis appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday after their scheme went pear-shaped.
The court heard how 29-year-old Hendry had taken the copper piping from a DIY store in the centre of town, before enlisting some help.
A witness watched as she carried the metal from Wickes at St Catherine’s Retail Park to a nearby property. There, she recruited 24-year-old Ghekis to assist her in taking it from a common close into a flat.
The pair then took a taxi to a scrap merchant on Shore Road, where they were asked for identification before they had the chance to offload the goods. Staff became suspicious and alerted police, who traced Hendry and Ghekis. There was full recovery of the copper piping.
Defending Hendry, solicitor John McLaughlin told the court that his client had been on a methadone programme and was also taking painkillers for a leg injury.
“It appeared that she took too many painkillers, which I think made her seem drunk. With the combination of methadone, this didn’t have the best result. She doesn’t remember what happened, but accepts the narration.”
Mr McLaughlin added that, as she gave her name twice, it was clear that she was “never” going to be successful in covering her tracks.
Meanwhile, Linda Clark, defence agent for Ghekis, said her client had only become involved after being contacted by Hendry.
“There appears to be a number of items and Ghekis assisted the co-accused in moving them,” Ms Clark added. “She didn’t make the proper inquiries with regards to where the items came from and regrets that.”
Hendry, of Kestrel Way, Perth, admitted that on March 29, at Wickes Store, St Catherine’s Retail Park, she stole a quantity of copper piping.
Ghekis, of St Catherine’s Square, Perth, admitted that on the same date, at High Street and at Holden Environmental, Shore Road, Perth, she reset a quantity of copper piping which had been appropriated by theft.
Sentencing Hendry, Sheriff Peter Hammond highlighted her lengthy record of similar offences before jailing her for four months.
He imposed a £200 fine on Ghekis.
Photo by Flickr user Ashley R. Good.