A despicable thief who stole an ‘honesty’ cashbox from outside a country cottage was jailed for six months at Perth Sheriff Court this week.
The box was beside a produce stall at Bushel Cottage, Kinrossie, and passing motorists would take what they wanted and were trusted to leave their cash.
The court heard that 41-year-old Alan Marshall, accompanied by his partner and their dog, pulled up at the rural location.
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But he just helped himself to the money box before driving off.
Depute fiscal Sarah Wilkinson said it contained £120 and, of that sum, only £59 had been recovered.
Marshall, of Mercat Green, Kinrossie, was later traced and paid the penalty when he appeared via video link on Wednesday.
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He is currently serving a prison term and his earliest release date was to have been March 23.
But that has been pushed back after Sheriff Neil Bowie ordered that the latest sentence run from the end of his present jail time.
He admitted stealing the cash from outside Bushel Cottage, Kinrossie, on May 18 last year.
He was subject to two bail orders at the time - February 12 and 27, 2020, from the Perth court.
Solicitor David Holmes tendered a not guilty plea to the theft charge on behalf of 40-year-old Lousie Marshall, of the same address, and that was accepted by the prosecution.
Alan Marshall also drove without insurance on the B926, near the cottage, and on the A94, at the Park and Ride, Scone.
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In addition, a lock knife was seized by police from his car.
Mr Holmes described the theft as “opportunistic” but his client had expressed regret for what he had done.
The accused, said to have an “appalling record” for road traffic offences, had been jailed for three months - and banned for a year - last November when he failed to stop after striking a street light on a Perth housing estate.
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He also had a consecutive four months added to that for defying a court curfew order.
The seven-month sentence was backdated to October 1.
