Victorian Market till thief given 'last chance'

A thief with a bad conviction record who stole a till off the counter of a food stall in Inverness's Victorian Market has been spared a jail sentence.

But Sheriff Gary Aitken warned 31-year-old Scott Burns, of Murray Terrace, Smithton, that he was on his "last chance".

He told Burns that if he did not co-operate with social workers supervising him for the next 18 months, he would go to jail.

Sheriff Aitken fixed a review of Burns' progress in a month's time on November 2 and delivered another stern warning: "You had better show exemplary conduct and attend every appointment."

Burns appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted the theft from Highland Hog Roast on July 10.

Defence solicitor Stephen Carty told the court at an earlier hearing: "His life has been somewhat chaotic over the last 18 months but the help he has had from the Salvation Army has been enormous.

"They managed to secure him his first tenancy and he is working with a drugs counsellor.

"He has been trying to steer clear of court and turn his life around. But he was short of funds. It was a spur of the moment decision when he took the till from the counter."

Fiscal depute Grant McLennan told the court: "The till had around £100 in cash in it and the member of staff left the counter to go to the toilet."

Burns was seen outside "on the ground trying to open the till with his foot". He got access and then rifled through it. Witnesses saw him and contacted the police.

"He was arrested and the contents of the till [were] recovered," Mr McLennan said.

Burns was represented on this occasion by Pauline Chapman, acting for Mr Carty, and she asked the court to give him "a final chance. If he doesn't take it he knows where he is going."