An Angus court has heard how an Arbroath man asked a taxi to wait while he shoplifted from a local supermarket.
Michael Nicoll, from North Grimsby, Arbroath, told police: “It was a one-off a bad day” after he took a cab to the supermarket at Westway Retail Park on November 23, before going inside to steal alcohol and razor blades.
Arbroath Sheriff Court heard on Tuesday that staff at the store had become suspicious after noticing a number of bulges in the 23-year-old’s jacket.
Depute fiscal Arlene Shaw said: “At around 7.50pm in the evening the accused approached the local taxi office and requested a taxi to take him to the local supermarket, with various detours.
“The taxi arrived and the accused advised the driver to wait in the car park and he would return.”
Ms Shaw continued: “He entered the shop and staff approached the accused after noticing he was acting suspiciously.”
Nicoll had slipped two bottles of gin and a bottle of vodka into his jacket, but was stopped and asked to reveal what he had picked up.
Ms Shaw said: “The accused handed these to the staff and began to leave the shop and walked away. The taxi driver approached him and asked him to pay the taxi fare, but the accused told the driver to go away.”
The taxi driver flagged down a police vehicle and Nicoll was arrested, revealing he had left the shop with razor blades to the value of around £36.
He admitted failing to pay for a £20 taxi fare and attempting to steal the goods.
Sheriff Fiona Tait called for reports and deferred sentence until February 28.