Moray courts: Teenager went on ‘bizarre’ number plate theft spree across Elgin

An Elgin teenager has been sentenced for stealing the number plates off numerous vehicles parked all around the town.

Harley Fraser appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court where he pleaded guilty to targeting nine different vehicles in less than a month towards the start of this year.

The 19-year-old admitted removing both the front and back plates from a white Ford van at Balmoral Terrace on February 14.

That same day he also stole the rear plates from a silver Renault parked nearby and, in addition, targeted a blue Ford a short walk away on Fraser Avenue.

Three days later the teenager was at it again, taking the rear plates from a white Skoda on Lossiemouth Road.

On February 20 it was the turn of a silver Volkswagen on Linkwood Road.

Then, on February 26, a black Peugeot on Deanshaugh Terrace.

Fraser also pleaded guilty to taking number plates from a further three vehicles – a white Volkswagen, a silver Honda and a blue Honda – at unspecified addresses around Elgin between February 13 and March 10.

In addition, Fraser admitted using someone else’s bank card without consent to pay for £62 of food from a Morrisons Daily store in Aberdeen on June 14.

Then, two days later, he stole a pair of headphones from a parked car on Papermill Gardens, Aberdeen.

This last offence was committed in breach of a home curfew which had been imposed earlier by the court.

Fraser’s defence solicitor labelled the number plate thefts “bizarre behaviour”, stressing the teenager had never benefited financially in any way from his actions.

Stephen Carty said: “It was just immature foolish behaviour without any proper explanation.

“He didn’t appreciate the gravity of the situation he was putting himself in.”

Mr Carty stated that Fraser has the support of his family and that social workers believe the teenager is finally making “great progress”.

The lawyer added: “He’s a young man who has learnt a serious lesson.

“He appears on the face of it to be turning a corner.”

Sheriff David Harvie placed Fraser under the court’s supervision for the next 12 months.

In addition, the teenager was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work for the community within the same time frame.

Sheriff Harvie commented: “Your behaviour caused huge inconvenience.

“Because of you lots of people were left unable to drive their vehicles until they were able to get their registration plates replaced.”

Fraser was also electronically tagged and placed under a further home curfew.

This means he must stay inside his home address on Blane Place, Elgin. between the hours of 7pm and 7am for the next 10 months.

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