A SHERIFF has imposed a community payback order on a Helensburgh man who was caught with stolen electronic devices, despite hearing he would prefer to be electronically tagged and restricted to remaining at home at night.

Steven Black, 38, was arrested after being found with a quantity of handheld computing devices on August 15 last year in West Princes Street in Helensburgh.

Black, of Fisher Place, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to be sentenced after pleading guilty to the charge by letter. He had admitted an offence of resetting the items which had been dishonestly appropriated by theft.

Laura Wilcox, defence solicitor for Black, said: “To an extent Mr Black has acknowledged what has happened.

“He advises that out of all the disposals available to the court that a restriction of liberty order would be the most useful to him.”

Sheriff William Gallacher told Black: “I am willing to accept that a restriction of liberty order or supervision may be beneficial for you but I’m not going to do that just because it suits you"

The sheriff imposed the community payback order with the conditions that Black be supervised for 12 months and carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the community within the next five months.