A man who raided a Moray golf club whilst high on drink and drugs after being released on bail for various driving offences was jailed for nine months.
Christopher Smith, who appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court, admitted to charges of stealing petrol, driving whilst disqualified and breaking into Dufftown Golf Club.
The court heard that at 9.30am on April 5, the 25-year-old put £54.39 of petrol into his car from the Asda Superstore, Edgar Road, Elgin, before driving off without paying.
An employee was able to note down the number plate and police identified Smith via the filling station’s CCTV and found him to be driving whilst disqualified.
Smith was then involved in the drink-and-drug-fuelled raid of Dufftown Golf Club in the early hours of April 27.
Fiscal depute Ruairidh McAlister said: “At 2.30am, police received notification of an alarm being activated.
“The club key holder arrived first and saw headlights of a vehicle leaving.
“The two front doors at the entrance to the building had windows smashed and a fire extinguisher was found laying nearby.”
Inside, police found golf clubs, small amounts of coins, parts of a broken till were leading to the front door.
The fire alarm had been pulled off the wall, the CCTV computer screen was punched through and a display cabinet was also destroyed.
Hours later, at 7.40am, Smith, one of three involved in the incident, was traced dozing in the car, surrounded by change, a golf club, a tshirt, a Dufftown
Golf Clubt till receipt. He was then charged with the theft of the items and £300.
Solicitor Neil McRobert said his client had consumed some alcohol and Valium on the night of the break-in, which was the idea of Smith’s friend, he claimed.
