Buckie chef jailed for series of offences

A Buckie chef turned to drugs and found himself in a police cell when he began mixing with the “wrong people” after losing his job.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 31-year-old Colin Sutcliffe, could not remember two of the three offences he admitted.

Sutcliffe pleaded guilty to stealing an electric bike worth £1500 from a garage in Highfield Road, Buckie on December 8.

Sheriff Robert Frazer was told that the following day, the defendant bought a NorthFace jacket from an acquaintance which had been stolen – a crime of reset.

Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh said that on the same day, Sutcliffe was seen in the grounds of Buckie High School trying the door handle of a locked garage – when it was presumed he was there to commit theft.

The prosecutor told the court that Sutcliffe was filmed on CCTV wearing the NorthFace jacket which he also had on when police came to interview him about the school incident on December 18.

He was arrested and remanded in custody the following day.

Defending, Grant Daglish told the court his client admitted his previous convictions and explained he "mixed with the wrong peer group after losing his job.

"Substances were taken and he has no memory of stealing the bike or being in Buckie High School. "

Jailing Sutcliffe for 10 months, the Sheriff told him: "You have a bad record of previous convictions and have served many custodial sentences in the past."

The sentence was backdated to December 19 which effectively means Sutcliffe will be released almost immediately.