Cash-spinner goes right down drain

Aug 19 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A “WIZARD” scheme to get extra cash by pinching metal covers and selling them for scrap metal ended down the drain.

For the two men, one from Kinross-shire, were caught as their clanking and banging alerted neighbours.

And police stopped them in their heavily-laden van.

Inside were 36 drain covers, valued at £150 each, which they intended to sell for scrap metal.

Twenty-year-old Alexander Stewart, of Greenacres, Blairadam, and brother-in-law John Alexander McPhee (17), of Auchenlock Drive, Falkirk, stole the covers, valued at £5,400, from Muirton Bank, and other Perth city streets on June 2.

A not guilty plea to a second charge which alleged that they culpably and recklessly removed the covers, leaving open holes, with no regard for the safety of road users and to the danger of life, was accepted by the prosecution.

Solicitor Paul Ralph, for Stewart, said: “Someone suggested this might be a wizard way of making some extra money.

“But it was a hare-brained scheme.”

The drain covers had been recovered and returned to Perth and Kinross Council, the court heard.

Stewart was fined £360 and McPhee had his sentence deferred for six months for good behaviour.