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Highland drug addict is given chance to stay out of prison


By Ali Morrison

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Inverness Sheriff Court.
Inverness Sheriff Court.

A DRUG addict who committed a series of thefts in Inverness and elsewhere has been given a chance to avoid a jail term for his offending.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 31-year-old Cameron Gaff, whose sentence had been deferred for a background report and initial drug treatment order assessment, “was likely to respond well” to a strict drugs testing regime if given the chance.

But Sheriff Gary Aitken also heard that Gaff, of Rothiemurchus Lodge, Aviemore, could not complete the full drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) assessment process without being at liberty.

Until this week he had been remanded in custody in connection with the thefts committed late last year.

At court on Wednesday, defence solicitor Marc Dickson asked the sheriff to allow his client to be released on bail.

Agreeing to the request, Sheriff Aitken told Gaff, who appeared in court via video link from Inverness Prison:“The authors of the reports say that you are likely to respond well to the programme and, if you are able to do so, it will be greatly to your benefit and to society.

“It will also hopefully keep you out of trouble.”

Sheriff Aitken imposed a 7pm to 7am curfew on Gaff as part of his bail, requiring him to remain at his home address during those hours.

Gaff will return to court on May 14 to learn if he is deemed a suitable candidate for the full DTTO programme.

Last month, he admitted stealing a car as well as £1700 worth of jewellery and bank cards from premises in Ardconnel Street, Inverness, between December 22 and 26 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to using the cards fraudulently to obtain goods worth £344.75 and to driving the car while uninsured.

He admitted stealing £60 from a Chinese takeaway in Kingussie on October 17, as well as various goods from the town’s Duke of Gordon Hotel the following day.

And Gaff also admitted a charge of stealing £200 from a woman withdrawing cash from an ATM in Church Street, Inverness, on October 2. His guilty plea was entered just before he was set to stand trial on the matter.


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