Van part theft lands former cop in Wick Sheriff Court

THE theft of a spare part from a damaged vehicle in a field was committed by a retired police officer, Wick Sheriff Court heard.

Peter Huntington (62) decided to take the law into his own hands after "hunting high and low" for the seatbelt mechanism for his Renault van.

He was spotted as he was removing the part from one of a number of un-roadworthy vehicles by the roadside at Bardnatua Croft, Latheron, on February 1. The owner who repairs the vehicles or strips them for spare parts, challenged the accused and the theft was reported to the police.

Huntington admitted the theft which occurred on February 1, and was fined £90.

Fiscal David Barclay said that the accused wanted the seatbelt mechanism for his Renault van. The owner appeared on the scene and asked Huntington what he was doing.

Mr Barclay continued: "The accused said he had been trying to find the part in question and had made unsuccessful efforts to contact the owner, and had left a note at an adjoining building."

The fiscal added: "The accused said he had decided to remove the part while passing the croft – in a moment of desperation and frustration."

Huntington told police officers: "I told the owner several times that I was happy to pay for the part but he wouldn't listen. He just went ballistic."

Solicitor Patrick O'Dea said that the accused had searched for the part for four months but possible replacements were either not suitable or damaged.

Sheriff Ian Miller told Huntington, who was living locally in Spittal, at the time of the theft but had since moved to Westdyke Drive, Westhill, that the offence was at the lowest end of the theft scale but it had unfortunately given Huntington a criminal record.

The sheriff added: "The part was something you needed but you went the wrong way about it entirely the wrong way."