'Immature' Inverness man stole from employers

An Inverness man accused of dishonesty offences made matters worse for himself by lying to social workers preparing a pre-sentence report on him.

David Gross (21), of Eriskay Road, Inverness, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at Inverness Sheriff Court to charges of theft, fraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He had been told by Sheriff Gary Aitken he would be facing “a substantial jail sentence” if he had similar previous convictions.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard Gross was working for Inverness firm Gap Hire Solutions when the three offences took place between December 8, 2017 and February 8, 2018.

He took his car into Hawco’s for a repair and fraudulently told them that his company would be paying for it.

Fiscal depute Niall Macdonald said the company did not pay the £1125 bill and Gross had to. Two months later, Gross stole a chainsaw by buying it through his company’s account. He then changed the firm’s inventory, altering it to look like a hire.

The chainsaw was recovered and Gross was sacked.

Gross, now living in Connel, Oban, was fined a total of £880.

The details of the lie he told social workers was not revealed in court, but solicitor Mike Chapman said: “He was trying to minimise his responsibility.”

The sheriff told Gross: “It is disappointing that you lied to the social worker in an attempt to get out of trouble.

“It may be that you have a dishonest streak in you and you would be wise to change your ways.”

Mr Chapman said his client’s dishonesty with the social worker was down to “immaturity” and his family were severely disappointed in him.

He added: “At the time of the offences he was only 19 and saw an opportunity to take advantage of his company’s systems.”

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