No win for Scottish Lottery thief

In an attempt to control spiralling debts a Scottish store clerk stole lottery scratch cards worth £1,500 from his employer, the Co-op supermarket on Shore Street, Gourock, Scotland.

But the plan was not all it was cracked up to be, the rolls of National Lottery instants games Andrew Lochrie, 28, stole from the store did not win a single penny.

Lochrie, who helped himself to the tickets over a period of three months in 2017 eventually confessed to his employers. He was sent to court and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within nine months.

Defending, Edel McGinty said, "There was an investigation within the workplace and he made full and frank admissions to his employers. He is filled with shame and regret.

"It is not lost on Mr Lochrie that he was in a position of trust. This was an act of desperation at a desperate time."

In court summary sheriff Andrew McIntyre said:  "There was an investigation within the workplace and he made full and frank admissions to his employers. He is filled with shame and regret.

"That is a lesson in itself that £1,500 worth of scratchcards didn't yield anything. This was a hopeless attempt by you to address your problem.

"You were in a position of trust. This offence crosses the threshold for prison but the social work department has made it plain that you are suitable for a community-based disposal."

Andrew Lochrie who has found work elsewhere was also ordered to pay back the £1.500 he stole.