Teen’s orgy of vandalism

Mar 3 2011 Blairgowrie Adv

A TEENAGER caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage after ripping the number plates from cars parked at a Perth housing estate.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that Rachell Aspinall (17), of Davidson Crescent, Coupar Angus, had embarked on her orgy of vandalism because she had been “having a bad day”.

Now she has been ordered to pay £200 compensation – and was fined the same amount when she appeared for sentence last Wednesday.

Aspinall began her vandalism spree on March 12 in Moulin Crescent.

It ended the following day in Campsie Road after taking in Dunsinane Drive.

During that time she targeted 10 cars. Not guilty pleas were accepted to a further three charges.

The vehicles which had their registration plates removed were a Citroen Picasso, Fiat Panda, Mazda 323, Fiat Punto, Citroen, Audi A4, Ford Focus, Peugeot 207, Suzuki Wagon and Seat Alhambra. The not guilty pleas related to an MG ZR, a BMW and a Mazda 200, all parked in Campsie Road.

A not guilty plea to the 13 charges was accepted from co-accused Stewart Chalmers Hill-Mackenzie, also of Davidson Crescent, Coupar Angus.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said the damage had amounted to around £200.

Solicitor Billy Somerville told the court that the accused had so far saved up £90 towards compensation from her £100 per fortnight benefits.

“Her and her then boyfriend had been drinking and there was some encouragement from the co-accused,” he said.

Despite the 10 charges, he described the accused’s behaviour as “an isolated incident”.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told her: “This was just stupid – an offence which gets you before the court.”

He ordered her to pay the £90 she has so far saved up to the court within seven days.

The fine and the balance of the compensation will be paid at £10 a fortnight.