A teenager caught raiding shops for cigarettes and alcohol worth thousands of pounds has dodged a jail sentence.
The 16-year-old and a teenage pal, who cannot be named for legal reasons, caused thousands of pounds’ worth of damage during the break-ins in Charleston and Menzieshill between September and October 2017.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard that the pair stole goods worth a total of £3,888 from Brownhill News Costcutters on Brownhill Road, Charleston Supermarket on Craigmount Road, Paperchase Wholesale on Nobel Road and Tesco on South Road.
Both teens also caused £5,200 worth of damage to doors and windows. Among the items stolen were 100 packets of cigarettes, as well as bottles of whisky, gin, vodka and rum.
Headphones, smoking paraphernalia, electric razors and toy BB guns were also taken.
Both teens appeared for sentencing before Sheriff Alastair Brown following the completion of social work reports.
Solicitor Jim Laverty, representing one of the youths, believed a tagging order would not be of benefit to his client or the people of Dundee.
He said: “While your lordship must consider rehabilitation and punishment, in the particular circumstances a positive punishment may be unpaid work. The citizens of Dundee, will they be repaid by keeping him in his home within certain hours? The more positive punishment is to repay the community by unpaid work.”
Sheriff Brown sentenced the teen to 200 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months, with one year of supervision and an assessment for the Venture Trust.
Sentence was deferred on the other 16-year-old, who appeared from custody, until February 1 for a separate Venture Trust assessment.
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