PAIR'S BROKE INTO DUMP FOR TV REMOTE IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT

John Martin Fulton • Published 19 Feb 2010 15:44

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TWO men sparked a considerable police operation - including dog handlers - when they decided to go looking for a TV remote control in the middle of the night.

Brian Almond, 43, and Kevin Murphy, 48, had decided that they needed to get the remote control for a television.

Unfortunately for the pair, they decided to go check the Irvine council amenity site as they drove past it in the middle of the night.

The sparked a security alert at the Bartonholm site around 2am when they tripped the infrared sensors.

CCTV cameras picked them up as they moved around the site, while the police were alerted.

While Almond and Murphy picked around the dump, police officers and dog handlers were called out.

However, when police arrived they had to wait almost 10 minutes for a keyholder to let them in.

And it didn't take long for the dogs to sniff out the pair as they hid near to a skip.

Almond's lawyer Alex Muir explained the absurdity of the situation, telling Kilmarnock Sheriff Court that they would have had no trouble getting a hold of a

remote control legally and free - had they simply gone to the site during the day.

He added that, ironically they had the remote control they did find, returned to them later on.

"People looking for bits and pieces are allowed to take stuff," he said, "What you don't do is go there at 2am."

Murphy's lawyer Graeme Cunningham agreed, saying they should have exercised better judgement.

Both men admitted to being within the curtilage of the site with reasonable view that they were there to commit theft on January 18.

Almond also admitted possession of amphetamine at Saltcoats Police Office later that morning.

Sheriff Iona McDonald berated the pair for their "stupidity" at the incident, fining Almond, of Green Street, Saltcoats, £380 and Murphy, of St. Margaret's Road, Ardrossan, £300.

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