A man who was caught in the act while attempting to steal alcohol from a fire-damaged Aberdeen restaurant has been handed community service.
Marc Milne was discovered by police within Valentino’s on Carden Place weeks after a fire had ripped through the popular Aberdeen restaurant.
When the 26-year-old was searched officers found eight bottles of “fire-damaged” alcohol in his possession, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
The Italian restaurant – which was previously called Dizzy’s – burnt down on December 23 2019, resulting in the building being boarded up.
‘Door appeared to have been forced’
On February 4 2020 the manager of Valentino’s visited the building on Carden Place to meet with representatives of the insurance company.
Shortly after midnight on February 5, a neighbour called the police after seeing a torchlight in the windows of the empty building.
Fiscal depute Lewis Devoy said: “A neighbour was within her home address when she heard a crashing sound coming from the locus, she observed what she thought was torchlight.
“She contacted the police and officers and a police dog attended and saw the front door to the premises was open, the door appeared to have been forced.
“The accused was located and removed from the building. He was found to be in possession of alcohol within a rucksack – eight bottles that were all fire-damaged.”
Officers found a bottle of wine, six bottles of prosecco and a bottle of beer in Milne’s possession.
Milne pleaded guilty to one charge of stealing a quantity of alcohol.
‘Initially, he just wanted in for a look around’
Defence agent Neil McRobert explained that during the offence two years ago, Milne was “extremely drunk” that night.
He said: “His position is that initially he just wanted in for a look around, but eventually, some alcohol was taken. It’s a serious offence, there’s no getting away from that.”
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin sentenced Milne of Gillespie Crescent, Aberdeen, to a community payback order with supervision for 12 months.
Sheriff McLaughlin also ordered him to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.
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