Jail for Kirkcaldy man who broke driving ban - and string of thefts from shops

A Kirkcaldy man who admitted driving a car without consent while disqualified, stealing alcohol from Fife shops and lying to police has been jailed for 32 weeks.
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Neil Robertson, of Thornhill Drive, was also disqualified from driving for two years on each complaint.

Robertson, 39 appeared before Sheriff Di Emidio at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

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He admitted on February 15, 2021 at an address in Saladin Street, Kirkcaldy he took and drove away a car without having the consent of the owner or other lawful authority while on bail. He further admitted on the same date on Hayfield Road, Kirkcaldy he drove a car while disqualified and on bail.

Robertson was jailed for 32 weeks at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.Robertson was jailed for 32 weeks at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
Robertson was jailed for 32 weeks at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

Robertson also admitted on September 12, 2020 at Co-op, Bennochy Road, Kirkcaldy he stole a quantity of alcohol.

He admitted on October 17, 2020 at Fife Central Retail Park, Kirkcaldy he drove a car while disqualified and without insurance.

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He further admitted on January 1, 2021 at Co-op in Bennochy Road, Kirkcaldy he stole food items and admitted on February 17, 2021 at Co-op in Bennochy Road, Kirkcaldy he stole alcohol.

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He admitted stealing alcohol again from the same store on February 20, 2021 and stealing alcohol from the Co-op in Bank Street, Lochgelly on March 4, 2021.

Robertson also pleaded guilty on March 4, 2021 to informing two police officers at the Co-op in Bank Street, Lochgelly that his name was Thomas Douglas, when he knew this to be false with intent to pervert the course of justice, while on bail.

The Procurator Fiscal Depute told the court that police observed the accused getting out of the driving seat of the car on February 15 this year and that when they carried out checks on the vehicle it was shown that Robertson was not insured to drive it, that he was disqualified from driving and that the car belonged to the accused’s partner.

The Procurator Fiscal Depute said when police attended at the Co-op in Lochgelly on March 4 the accused told them he was Thomas Douglas which they discovered was false after investigating.

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Robertson’s defence lawyer said that drug misuse had blighted his client’s life and that things had gone downhill for Robertson when lockdown happened in March 2020. He said: “He got involved in drugs misuse again and he struggled with his mental health which resulted in repeat offending during this period.

His physical and mental health is not so good, which is self-inflicted, but it hasn’t been helped by the lack of face to face contact he has been unable to have.”

Sheriff Di Emidio told Robertson his dishonest conduct, breaching a court order in terms of his driving disqualification and his record of offending were serious matters and that he saw no alternative than to sentence him to prison. He jailed him for a total of 32 weeks. On the first complaint he disqualified him from driving for two years and disqualified him for two years on the second complaint and ordered him to sit the extended driving test.

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