Two youths have been placed under supervision for stealing alcohol from shops in East Kilbride. George Gibson, 18, of Lancaster Crescent in the town, admitted to taking two bottles of Mad Dog wine from the BP service station in Old Coach Road on September 22 last year. He was reported to have been chased out of the shop by an assistant. In Hamilton Sheriff Court, it was mentioned that Dylan McCrae, 18, also from Lancaster Crescent, and Lewis McCrossan, 19, from Mill Court in Rutherglen, were not involved in the same incident. McCrae, however, admitted to assault and robbery at the Co-op on Main Street in East Kilbride on the same day, while McCrossan admitted to stealing wine from the store.
During the court proceedings, Robbie McDougall, the prosecutor, described the robbery incident at the Co-op that occurred around 9.20pm. McCrossan was said to have entered the store, selected two bottles of Buckfast, bypassed the payment point, and headed for the exit. He was stopped by a staff member who attempted to retrieve the bottles from him. McCrossan called for help from a friend outside, which led to McCrae entering the store with a knife, pointing it at the staff member and advancing towards him. Despite attempts by the staff member to calm the situation, McCrae demanded the return of McCrossan’s hat, escalating the tension. Eventually, McCrossan got his hat back, and the accused left the store with the stolen items.
Gibson and McCrossan were placed under social work supervision for 12 months by Sheriff Liam Murphy. McCrae’s sentencing was delayed until January to allow for background reports to be prepared.
This case serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in criminal activities such as theft and robbery. The court’s decision to place the youths under supervision highlights the importance of accountability and rehabilitation for young offenders. It is crucial for communities to address issues of youth crime and provide support to prevent such incidents from reoccurring in the future.