A former Dundee footballer who played alongside David Beckham has been jailed for stealing whisky from a supermarket.
Kevin Magee – who played for Preston North End alongside Beckham, as well as Dundee, Montrose, Partick Thistle and Livingston – took thousands of pounds worth of malt whisky from a supermarket in Oban without paying.
Oban Sheriff Court heard that Magee, 45, and Iain Arthurs, 42, filled their trolleys with whisky and spirits to the value of £2,478.43 and walked out of the town’s Tesco superstore.
The former winger and Arthurs were each jailed for nine months.
They were caught loading the drink into Magee’s car by two plain clothes officers in the store’s car park on July 23.
Their Renault Megane had attracted the attention of a police officer earlier that day after it failed to signal at a junction in Oban town centre.
Fiscal Eoin McGinty told the court: “A quick check revealed the vehicle was reported as being used in connection with high-value thefts from supermarkets and other stores.”
It came to light that a man fitting Magee’s description had stolen three bottles of expensive whisky, worth a total of £1,945, from the Green Welly Shop in Tyndrum on July 3.
Appearing from custody on Wednesday, Magee and Arthurs, both of Deerhill, Broxburn, in Lothian, pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of alcohol and groceries on July 23.
Their not guilty pleas to a charge of stealing a quantity of wine, spirits, a TV and groceries from the same store on July 9 was accepted.
Magee also pleaded guilty to stealing three bottles of whisky from the Green Welly Shop on July 3.
When approached by police at Tesco car park, Magee stated: “Fair enough, the motor’s full of stuff.”
Mr McGinty said: “At this point Arthurs made off but was detained after a short foot chase.
“Police checked the vehicle and it was full of premium spirits, mostly malt whiskies.
“CCTV in Tesco shows the two accused selecting a significant amount of alcohol and putting it in trolleys. Large crisp bags were then put on top and the trolleys were pushed out.”
The court heard that all of the haul from Tesco was recovered, however the whisky from Tyndrum was not.