Published: Thursday, 1st February, 2007 10:02
Man must wait to discover fate
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A MAN caught storing stolen goods must wait to find out if he faces a jail sentence.
Paul Lafferty appeared before Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week but a decision on his fate was deferred until later this month.
He had previously pled guilty to resetting stolen goods after he was linked to items taken from a house in the Burgh.
Police recovered a haul of items ranging from a mobile phone, television and electrical equipment to credit cards, a cheque book and a passport.
Even clothes, a mirror and cigarettes were found among the goods, which had been stolen after a man’s home was ransacked.
Maggie Porter, prosecuting, told the court that police officers acting on a tip-off turned up at Lafferty’s then home in Willamson Drive, just two hours after the break-in on February 19 last year.
Depute Fiscal Mrs Porter said: “The house was broken into in the early hours of the date in question. Some two hours later police officers, as a result of information given, gained entry to the common close at 38 Williamson Drive.
“They found a large quantity of the goods which had been stolen from the house, including two suitcases which also contained stolen goods.”
Officers told the 44-year-old that they would seek a search warrant to explore his home.
But Lafferty agreed to a voluntary search instead.
They found items in the house which were identified as having been stolen.
Defending Lafferty, now of Baird Avenue in Ardencaple, Pat Fordyce said that the goods had been stolen by someone else and left with him.
Mr Fordyce said: “The actual thief, who is now deceased, was known to Mr Lafferty and had borrowed Mr Lafferty’s car without his permission and had used that in the course of the break-in.
“The police found items all over the place. There were some items found in his car, some items found in the stairway and some items found in the flat.
“He has something of a chequered history in 2006 and was, in fact, in custody facing a murder charge for some time from April to November.
`When that case was concluded he was acquitted.”
The agent added: “He was fairly ill following the incident in April and suffered some very serious injuries.”
Lafferty was cleared of murdering fellow Kirkmichael man Brian Folan following a trial at the High Court in Kilmarnock in November last year.
He had been ordered to carry out community service over another matter last March but he was then injured during the same incident which saw the death of Mr Folan.
Sheriff Simon Pender heard that Lafferty had been unable to carry out unpaid work under the order since because of his wounds.
The Sheriff further deferred sentence until February 22 and called for medical reports and an assessment to see if he is suitable for a tagging order.
He said: “This is a matter in which I have to consider the imposition of a custodial sentence.`
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