Man smashed two cars in one night 26.4/12
A Lewis man who stole and crashed two vehicles on the same night avoided a prison sentence when he appeared at Stornoway Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
David Macleay, 23, of 23 Ballantrushal, previously pleaded guilty to taking vehicles without consent, driving without a licence and without insurance.
Procurator fiscal David Teale said Macleay knew where the key of a parked van which was undergoing repairs was hidden. He took off the vehicle on 3 March and crashed at Callanish.
The fiscal said he then stole a second vehicle, which had the keys left in it, from a carpark at a pharmaceutical plant carpark at Breasclete, but also smashed it.
Macleay’s lawyer said his client accepted he was in “serious jeopardy” of going to jail and was “frightened” of the prospect.
He pleaded for his freedom saying he lives a law abiding life “when drink and drugs are taken out of the equation.”
He added: “He’s extremely frightened at the prospect of going to jail – and that’s good. If your Lordship gives him the chance, perhaps this might be his last appearance before the court.”
Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie pointed out that Macleay had been drinking and the consequences to people could have been much worse.
He sentenced Macleay to a one year community payback order as an alternative to jail.
He ordered him to follow a substance treatment order which will be reviewed monthly over the next year. Maclean was also banned from driving for two years and received six penalty points.
The sheriff also ordered Macleay to be tagged for the next 12 months and placed him on a 7pm to 7am curfew on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
He instructed him to undertake 150 hours of community service and warned him to follow his parents’ house rules.