A serial thief who targeted delivery drivers and stole vans full of parcels has been locked up after ploughing into a courier.
Alexander McDonald stole delivery vans from Holburn Street and Union Terrace, on one occasion accelerating into the delivery man and carrying him on the bonnet for a short time.
The brave delivery driver, despite being injured, gave chase but could not keep up as McDonald, 42, sped away.
McDonald was then caught on CCTV flinging the parcels out of the van and into a wheelie bin before running off with it.
Fiscal depute Carol Gammie told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the first delivery driver parked on Holburn Street in Aberdeen around 10am on November 4 while making a delivery on Margaret Place.
Alexander McDonald fled ‘taking the wheelie bin laden with parcels with him’
Ms Gammie said: “There were 31 undelivered parcels still in the van.
“He left the keys in the ignition, with the engine still running and the van insecure whilst he made his delivery.
“He saw the accused walking on the other side of the road before suddenly turning and walking towards the van.
“The accused then got into the vehicle and drove off.”
The delivery driver contacted the police who traced the stolen van outside an address on Garthdee Drive, however, the keys and parcels were gone.
McDonald did not have a licence or insurance at the time.
In a separate incident, on November 25, another delivery driver started work at 8am, assisted by his partner.
He collected 50 parcels from Blacks Outdoor Shop around 1.45pm before going to Union Terrace to collect more parcels from Millets.
Accused sped off carrying delivery driver on bonnet
They made “numerous trips” back and forth to Millets to load up the van while the woman remained in the passenger seat.
Ms Gammie told the court: “When she exited the vehicle to open the rear doors for her partner, they heard the vehicle start.
“The delivery driver looked in the window and saw the accused in the driver’s seat.
“He banged on the windscreen and shouted at the accused to get out of the van.
“The accused accelerated sharply causing the delivery driver to fall onto the bonnet.
“He was carried on the vehicle for approximately five seconds before he was thrown
from the van onto the road.”
The man managed to stay on his feet but struck his elbow, causing it to bleed heavily.
Despite the injury, he tried to run after the van as it turned left onto Union Street and went through a red light near Broad Street.
McDonald then ignored a “no entry” sign on entering Exchequer Row and was seen undertaking other drivers before being lost to view in the Shiprow area.
Ms Gammie said: “A CCTV operator at the City Wharf Offices saw the accused drive into the loading bay there.
“He assumed the accused was there to make a delivery but became suspicious when he moved a wheelie bin to the rear of the van and began throwing boxes out of the van towards the bin.
“The accused, after being spoken to by the security officer, left the area taking the wheelie bin laden with parcels with him.”
‘Complete disregard for the safety of the public’
McDonald left the van in the loading bay where the delivery driver was able to trace it using a tracker device.
He then discovered his partner’s handbag and contents, including her iPhone, were missing, with a total value around £500.
Police later received a report of numerous items found in a communal hallway in a block of flats on Marquis Road.
On attending, they recovered packages containing items that had been in the stolen van, as well as the handbag and mobile phone.
McDonald was identified from CCTV.
Again, he did not have a licence or insurance.
McDonald, of HMP Grampian, admitted two charges of theft of a vehicle, two of driving without insurance and two of driving without a licence.
He also admitted dangerous driving and theft.
Thief also used wheelie bin in previous offence
It’s not the first time McDonald has utilised a wheelie bin in committing crime.
In November, The Press and Journal told how McDonald loaded a bin with £3,000 of goods after breaking into a charity shop in Aberdeen.
Sheriff Philip Mann described the dangerous driving incident as “concerning”, adding: “Complete disregard for the safety of the public.”
He deferred sentence for background reports to assess whether post-release supervision would be a viable option.
Defence agent Lynn Bentley reserved mitigation until the sentencing hearing.
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