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Inverness thief given chance to turn his life around


By Ali Morrison

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A man who stole from an Inverness restaurant has been placed on a drug treatment and testing order.

Ryan McWilliams (33) was released from remand so the second part of the drug order assessment could be carried out.

McWilliams of Baron Taylor’s Street was assessed as suitable for the strict programme of random and routine testing and placed on a DTTO for the next 24 months.

His lawyer, Rory Gowans, told Sheriff Sara Matheson: “He knows what to expect if he does not fully comply.”

McWilliams had previously been remanded in custody pending sentence after admitting walking out of a Chinese buffet restaurant with a bag containing bottles of wine and other items.

He had not paid for them and Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Jimmy Chung’s in Bank Street was closed due to the Covid-19 crisis, but had not been properly secured.

The court heard that McWilliams removed a wooden panel over the previously damaged front door in broad daylight on May 9 this year.

Fiscal depute David Morton said: “CCTV showed that McWilliams entered the premises at 4.45pm and officers were able to identify him from footage. The restaurant manager had reported the break-in.

“He left at 5.12pm carrying a bag for life which appeared to be full. The manager was only able to confirm that three bottles of wine valued at £45 had been stolen from a cupboard.”

The court heard that the city centre CCTV tracked McWilliams to his supported accommodation and he was arrested on May 11.

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