A thief who stole a van and used it to raid a recycling centre was caught out by the vehicle’s in-built tracking system and after he crashed it into a tree.
Steven Phillipson stole the white Peugeot from Grants Dufftown in Rothes but was unaware his movements were being tracked on a computer.
The 32-year-old drove more than 12 miles to the Spey Bay recycling centre in Fochabers and loaded it up with shovels, brushes and car batteries.
But his crime spree, on November 24 last year, was tracked and came to an end when he crashed into a tree.
Journey all recorded on tracker
Fiscal depute Stuart Coleman told Elgin Sheriff Court that the van was sitting with the keys in the ignition at the electrical firm base when Phillipson took it.
The van’s owners noted the tracker had recorded it crashing into a tree and when police later traced Phillipson they found it loaded with shovels, brushes and car batteries.
In court, he pled guilty to theft of a vehicle, attempted theft and failing to report an accident to the police.
Little memory of the thefts
Defence agent Stephen Carty said Phillipson couldn’t really remember much or give any explanation as to his behaviour on the day.
The solicitor said: “His memory of matters is particularly poor. He clearly had significant difficulties he was dealing with and he was not dealing with them particularly well.
“He appears to have turned a significant corner singe and is in full-time employment, which has been a stabilising factor for him.
“He seems to be very focused on that employment. He is trying to steer clear of this building and Police Scotland.”
The court heard he was “beginning to walk a fine line in terms of a custodial sentence” but that this latest offence was a “matter of enormous regret” to him.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood handed Phillipson, of New Street, Rothes, 112 hours of unpaid work, a one-year supervision order and a 14-month roads ban.
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