Nwicker60
29-Sep-11, 17:58
Two accused were warned to
expect custodial sentences
WICK Sheriff Court is due to hear the final chapter, tomorrow (Friday)
in one of its longest-ever trials when two safe robbers will learn the
length of the prison sentences they will serve.
Sheriff Andrew Berry warned John Hind and Matthew Peters to expect
custodial sentences, earlier this month when he called for reports.
Initially, Hind (55) from Colne in Lancashire,, and 40-year-old Peters,
who hails from Bournemouth, denied 18 charges of breaking into post
offices and other commercial premises throughout the Highlands and
north-east. However, the bulk of the charges were either dropped or
subject to no-case-to answer, rulings.
Both accused were, however, found guilty of breaking into the post
office at Glenuig, Lochailort, in south-west Inverness-shire, on
October 11, 2007, and stealing a safe and its contents. It was there,
that they were disturbed by police, who had been tracking the pair in a
surveillance operation. Peters and Hind fled into the hills, empty
handed, but were subsequently caught.
During the six-week trial, the jury heard a dramatic account of an
off-the-record statement , alleged to have been given to police, by
Peters, in which he said he was prepared to grass on Hind in return for
a deal. The request was rejected.
Hind went into hospital, briefly, during the trial, for a brain scan.
The court was told it was necessay to check on damage, a legacy from
the accused's earlier life as a successful amateur boxer.
Peters will also be sentenced to an additional charge, of breaking into
the Sutherland post office at Embo, in September 2007, and stealing a
safe containing £7000 in cash, and stock valued at almost £2000. He
also denied that charge but was found guilty.
expect custodial sentences
WICK Sheriff Court is due to hear the final chapter, tomorrow (Friday)
in one of its longest-ever trials when two safe robbers will learn the
length of the prison sentences they will serve.
Sheriff Andrew Berry warned John Hind and Matthew Peters to expect
custodial sentences, earlier this month when he called for reports.
Initially, Hind (55) from Colne in Lancashire,, and 40-year-old Peters,
who hails from Bournemouth, denied 18 charges of breaking into post
offices and other commercial premises throughout the Highlands and
north-east. However, the bulk of the charges were either dropped or
subject to no-case-to answer, rulings.
Both accused were, however, found guilty of breaking into the post
office at Glenuig, Lochailort, in south-west Inverness-shire, on
October 11, 2007, and stealing a safe and its contents. It was there,
that they were disturbed by police, who had been tracking the pair in a
surveillance operation. Peters and Hind fled into the hills, empty
handed, but were subsequently caught.
During the six-week trial, the jury heard a dramatic account of an
off-the-record statement , alleged to have been given to police, by
Peters, in which he said he was prepared to grass on Hind in return for
a deal. The request was rejected.
Hind went into hospital, briefly, during the trial, for a brain scan.
The court was told it was necessay to check on damage, a legacy from
the accused's earlier life as a successful amateur boxer.
Peters will also be sentenced to an additional charge, of breaking into
the Sutherland post office at Embo, in September 2007, and stealing a
safe containing £7000 in cash, and stock valued at almost £2000. He
also denied that charge but was found guilty.