'Naive' girlfriend drove car theft gang to Moray
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A woman who drove a criminal gang from Lothian to steal cars from an Elgin dealership has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Stephanie Lee appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court today after the case had been previously deferred for a background report.
Sheriff Gary Aitken told the 31-year-old university graduate: "You performed an important role in a serious criminal enterprise. But I am just persuaded I can deal with this in the community, as an alternative to a prison sentence."
Defence solicitor Paul Dunn told the court that his client, having suffered in a previous abusive relationship, and had gone on to become involved briefly with "a significantly entrenched criminal".
The lawyer added: "She was vulnerable, naive and an unworldly person.
"The original driver pulled out at the last minute and she was asked to drive.
"She went along with it knowing something illegal was going to happen, but she in no way gained personally."
Lee did not take part in the break-in at the Hawco showroom dealership on Wards Road, Elgin, which took place on January 14, 2021.
Nor did she take part in any subsequent thefts committed by the gang.
However she was guilty on the basis that she was an accessory.
On the night of the Hawco theft the gang were filmed both by CCTV at the showroom and, earlier, when they stopped at an Edinburgh supermarket filling station.
The police were subsequently able to match the footage, leading to their arrests.
The earlier court hearing was told that Darren Malone (27) recruited his new recent girlfriend to drive the gang north.
Malone, who is currently serving a 610 day sentence, appeared by video link.
He admitted the theft, , while acting with others, of a VW T-Roc, a VW Golf and an Audi A3, with a total value of £64,425.
The court was told that only the T-Roc was recovered by police.
Malone was sentenced to a further two years in prison.
Lee, whose address was given as Ferry Gait, Edinburgh, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for the community.
