Galashiels shoplifter jailed after being caught with cocaine

Published 25 Sep 2012 12:31

A DOPEY shoplifter was arrested after walking past a police station carrying the items that he stole moments earlier from a shop, a court has heard.

Raymond Carlton,30, was detained by cops in Galashiels after officers there received a call from staff at a branch of Argos in the town on June 21, 2012.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard on Tuesday how workers told them that Carlton had stolen some toys from the shop and provided a description of him.

Officers then noticed a man matching Carlton's description walking past their station - they then went outside, arrested him and found he was carrying cocaine worth £755.

The story emerged following a hearing at the court which resulted in Carlton, a prisoner of HMP Edinburgh, pleading guilty to theft and drug possession charges before Sheriff Paul Arthurson QC.

Depute procurator fiscal John Kirk told the court that the Londoner was holidaying in Galashiels when he decided to rip off Argos.

The court heard that Carlton walked out of the store with toys worth £38.99 - and started heading in the direction of the local police station.

Mr Kirk said: "He was detained by the officers outside the station after they received a call from Argos. The accused matched the description given to the officers."

The policemen then found that Carlton was carrying more than £700 of cocaine.

Defence solicitor advocate David Allan told the court that his client had spent several years battling with an addiction to the drug.

Mr Allan also said that his client - who has previous convictions - came to Scotland with the narcotic because he thought it would be difficult to obtain the class A drug in the Borders.

Sheriff Arthurson jailed Carlton for nine months.

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 26 Sep 12

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