Honesty box theft man is jailed

14 January 2017

A man who stole cash from backpackers hostels has been sent to prison.

Andrew Ridsdale opened a locked honesty box in the Gatliff Trust hostel in Berneray on 29 December.

He again took money during a similar offence at the Howmore hostel over New Year.

On Monday, the 44-year-old also drove a car from Berneray and Eriskay despite being disqualified. Neither did he have valid insurance.

Ridsdale was arrested and taken into custody in Stornoway.

Sheriff David Sutherland imprisoned him for eight months after he pleaded guilty to the four charges at Stornoway Sheriff Court.

But added to his sentence was an unexpired portion of a previous jail term taking his sentence up to 17 months.