A drunken man disappeared with his friend’s shopping after offering to carry it home for him.
David Connolly appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court, pictured, on Monday and admitted stealing two bottles of cider, crisps and a mobile phone at Green Terrace, Hawick, on Saturday. The 30-year-old, of Lintburn Street, Galashiels, also pleaded guilty to giving police a false name.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said the accused had been socialising with friends when he borrowed a mobile phone, but failed to return it. The group went to the Premier Store in Havelock Street and bought cider and crisps.
“The accused offered to carry the bag and, as they walked past Green Terrace, said he needed to urinate and went round the back of some garages there,” explained Ms Bradley, adding: “His friends waited, but he didn’t reappear, and made off with the phone and the carry-out.”
Police made efforts to trace Connolly without success. “At his home, he evaded them by jumping out of a back window,” continued Ms Bradley.
When another officer spoke to him the following morning, Connolly claimed to be someone else.
Ms Bradley said there had been no recovery of the stolen items, worth £40.
Ross Dow, defending, said his client had been carrying the shopping and “pulled a fast one”.
The solicitor went on: “The two bottles of cider have been consumed and he has hidden the phone.
“He thought he could pull the wool over the police officer’s eyes by giving another name.”
Sheriff Kevin Drummond sentenced Connolly to a community payback order, with 99 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months. He also ordered that he pay £40 compensation.