A pair of north-east men who broke into a restaurant and made-off with the safe in a Christmas Eve heist have been spared jail.
Following an argument with his girlfriend, Peter Mack contacted her father David Mcleod and, in a bizarre twist, they decided to stage a spur-of-the-moment robbery.
The two men drove to the beach esplanade in Aberdeen where they decided to target the Pier Bistro just before 2am.
The city’s sheriff court heard they removed a pane of glass from the window, made their way inside and took a safe containing almost £1,800.
They had only minutes to celebrate their success, however as less than an hour later the pair were being hunted by the police.
Staff who turned up to work the following morning could hardly have failed to notice there had been a break-in.
Police were called and viewed CCTV which clearly showed Mack, 30, and Mcleod carrying out the theft and then heading-off in the direction of the beach.
The two men were soon charged and confessed to the offence at the court, where they returned yesterday to be sentenced.
Representing Mack, of Heathryfold Circle in Aberdeen, defence agent Laura Gracie said her client had been led into committing the break in.
She said: “He tells me he is extremely disappointed in himself.
“His co-accused entered first and then he helped him remove the safe.”
Representing Mcleod, of Provost Rust Drive, Defence agent Liam McAllister said McLeod, of Provost Rust Drive, was “43 years of age and has never acted in this manner previously”.
He added: “This incident took place in a short space of time. It was a moment of utmost stupidity.”
The safe and its contents were fully recovered.
Sheriff Philip Mann fined Mack £600 and ordered him to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work, while Mcleod was ordered to carry out 225 hours of unpaid work.
He warned the pair that a custodial sentence could have been imposed.
