Parking fine adds to metal thief’s woes

First Robin Townsley was ordered to pay £200 compensation to a golf club towards the cost of fixing its roof.

Then, as he left Livingston Sheriff Court, he was hit with a £30 parking fine for staying for more than 45 minutes in the car park.

Townsley, 18, of Allarton, North Lanarkshire, appeared for sentence yesterday.

He earlier pleaded guilty to stealing lead from the roof of Greenburn Golf Club in Fauldhouse, West Lothian, on June 22 last year.

The court was told he was caught red-handed loading the metal into the back of his van. He claimed that strips of lead had been hanging down from the roof so he just helped himself.

Outside court Townsley said: “I’ve been up at court five times for this and now I’ve got a parking ticket on my van.”