News / Three-month jail term
A THIRTY two year old man will spend the festive season behind bars after being jailed for 12 weeks at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
George Cruickshank, of Nederdale, Lerwick, pleaded guilty to being found within the garage of a house at Upper Sound so that it could be “reasonably inferred” that he intended to steal on 29 November. He also admitted failing to attend a previous court appearance on 10 December without reasonable excuse.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said householders were disturbed by a noise from their downstairs garage at around 6.45pm on the night in question. When they went to investigate they saw Cruickshank exiting and noticed that a number of items had been disturbed.
The police were called and officers apprehended him nearby shortly afterwards.
Defence agent Chris Dowle said his client had “no clear idea or recollection of what he was doing” when the offence took place.
He said Cruickshank was “very anxious” to avoid prison and, while he had an extensive criminal record, his rate of offending had reduced in recent years. Dowle also argued that the crime was “not the most serious of offences” – nothing was stolen, and he left the premises when asked to.
However the fiscal rejected the notion that it was a “relatively minor” offence, saying Cruickshank had not committed theft simply because he was prevented from doing so.
Sheriff Arnold Duncan said there was no disputing that Cruickshank possessed a “formidable” criminal record, often relating to dishonesty. He sentenced him to a total of 12 weeks in prison, reduced from 24 weeks to reflect his guilty plea.
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