A former Aberdeen restaurateur has appeared in court and admitted a series of crimes, including stealing a car and trying to break into others.
Chris Tonner, who was chief executive of now-defunct company Beetroot Restaurants Limited, appeared via videolink from HMP Grampian and pleaded guilty to a number of charges.
The 40-year-old’s former firm used to operate both The Adelphi Kitchen and barbecue restaurant Cue – formerly The Courtyard – until both closed during the oil and gas downturn.
History of bust restaurants
He hit the headlines again in 2019 when his wedding catering firm Salt and Sauce went bust, just two years after its inception, leaving dozens of couples’ plans in tatters.
The caterer’s parent company Gilbert and Joseph was dissolved three months earlier in March 2019.
He appeared in Aberdeen Sheriff Court today and pleaded guilty to stealing a car, breaking into another and stealing its contents, as well as driving without insurance.
On August 4, this year, while acting with another person, he stole a car from the city’s Richmond Terrace. He was later caught driving it, without insurance, on Wingate Place.
Later that same month, on August 31, he was caught trying the door handles of two other cars at Balmoral Place.
Police found him actually inside a third car and he was charged with intent to commit a theft.
On November 6, Tonner stole headphones, a passport and a jumpstart kit from within an unlocked car parked on the city’s Wallfield Place.
The dad-of-one appeared via videolink from HMP Grampian at Aberdeen Sheriff Court where Sheriff Ian Miller called for background reports.
Tonner, of Richmond Walk, had his case adjourned and he’ll next appear for sentencing in January 2022. He was remanded in custody.
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