Youth pulled Co-op door off its hinges

Feb 27 2009 by Gregor White, Stirling Observer Friday

KILLEARN’S Co-op store is to receive £150 compensation from a local youth who damaged the front door.

At Stirling Sheriff Court on Tuesday Peter Hutchison (18), of 32 Balfron Road, Killearn, admitted pushing the door off its hinges as he and a group of friends were asked to leave after causing trouble in the store.

The court was told that Hutchison was part of a group who had entered the shop and began pressing buttons on the till and trailing receipt rolls across the floor.

When told to leave, fiscal Gail Russell said the group made their way to the door but there seemed to be some problem closing it.

“The accused took hold of it and pulled it from its hinges,” she added.

Defence solicitor Ken Dalling said Hutchison, who was 17 at the time of the incident on July 17 last year and had no previous convictions, had originally gone to the shop to meet a friend and had no idea the larger group were there when he arrived.

“There was a considerable amount of messing about by these persons within the shop and, as Mr Hutchison joined them, it seems the employee there put him in the same category as them and his reaction was, indeed, to join in.”

Mr Dalling said the accused, employed by a local construction company, was “not pleased” with his conduct and “being presented with it in these terms seems somewhat embarrassed”.

“He is also anxious to show this was an isolated incident,” he added.

As well as the compensation order Hutchison was also fined £150 and ordered to pay within three months.