Four months in jail for man who stole poppy appeal charity box

A man who stole a poppy appeal charity box three days before Remembrance Day was jailed for four months when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Wesley Bailey, 30, stole the charity collection tin from Sound Service Station on 8th November while on bail. He distracted a member of staff after entering the shop with a friend and helped himself to the box.

There was no evidence his friend was involved in the offence. Neither the box, nor the money contained within it, were ever recovered.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said it was not known how much cash was in the container, however in past years they have usually held £100-£150.

“It’s reasonable to infer that is what’s involved here,” he said.

Defence agent Chris Dowle said Bailey accepted it was a “despicable” thing to do, and he was “thoroughly ashamed of it”.

“He says his realisation of what he did sank in very quickly. He threw the container away and did not profit from it.”

Mr Dowle said unemployed Bailey had co-operated with the police and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Referring to background reports, sheriff Graeme Napier said Bailey had seemed of sound mind, given his claim that he was “wasted on drugs”.

He added that while Bailey did not profit from his escapade, the people “who would have benefited did not benefit, either”.

Sheriff Napier said Bailey might have been a “candidate” for a non-custodial sentence if his past record was not so high.

“You’ve been described as being a high risk and I consider the appropriate way of dealing with you is to impose a custodial sentence,” he told him.

Half of Bailey’s sentence, which was backdated to 10th November, was imposed for his breach of bail.