Newcastle man Somuel Dumitru visited the Highland to shoplift in order to pay off gambling debts, Inverness Sheriff Court hears
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A 25-year-old man travelled to the north-east and the Highlands on a shoplifting spree to help pay off his gambling debts.
But Inverness Sheriff Court heard that although Somuel Dumitru, of Ellesmere Road, Newcastle, stole thousands of pounds worth of high-value goods, he sold them at a fraction of their true cost.
Dumitru appeared at court and admitted five thefts from stores in Dingwall, Inverurie, Elgin, Inverness and Dundee between November 18 and 19, 2019.
Fiscal depute David Morton said: “Most were branded Apple products – two of the four watches were worth a total of £1000 and one of the two mobile phones also £1000.
“There was no recovery.”
Defence solicitor Stephen Carty said: “He had a gambling addiction and owed a considerable amount of money.
“The goods were sold for about 10 per cent of their actual value.”
Sentence had been deferred for a background report which recommended a community payback order.
Sheriff Gary Aitken told Dumitru: “You are very close to prison today.”
As an alternative, he placed Dumitru under two year’s social work supervision, and ordered him to carry out 210 hours of unpaid community work.
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