A north-east man who was left with serious spinal injuries after his part in a ram raid has been placed under supervision.
Christopher Milne, 30, of Rosehill Court, Aberdeen, previously admitted being part of a group of criminals that crashed a stolen Honda CRV into the Costcutter store on Main Street, Newburgh, on July 2, 2018.
Milne got out of the car and ran into the store and helped to steal alcohol while also attempting to steal the cash box, which they discovered was empty.
But as the group headed back into town, his accomplice Liam Anderson smashed into the back of a road-paving vehicle parked on the Old Aberdeen Road at Balmedie.
Anderson was critically injured, and his friends were also badly hurt.
Milne was left with severe spinal injuries and had to wear a brace up until very recently, the court heard.
When he was later searched by police in hospital he also had cocaine and heroin in his possession, which he also previously pleaded guilty to.
Fiscal depute Sally McAuley told the court that the break-in caused damage worth £7,000, while the alcohol cost £78.
Stuart Murray, defence agent, said Milne’s actions had been particularly unusual because he had never committed an offence before, but said he had been “self-medicating” on drink and drugs.
Sheriff Gary Aitken warned Milne that he was potentially heading towards a “long, downward spiral” if he did not change his ways.
He ordered him to wear an electronic tag for four months and placed him under supervision for one year.
Anderson was banned from driving for three years and placed under supervision for a year and also placed on a curfew at a hearing in January.