A SAUCHIE man convicted of twice robbing a convenience store in Sauchie has been handed an extension to his sentence for vandalising court property.

Stephen Roche (20), pictured right, appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday (30 October) after admitting to a charge of damaging the ceiling of one of the cells in the Alloa courthouse.

Marie-Claire Chaffey, fiscal depute, told the court that on 1 April 2014, Roche used a cigarette lighter to inflict burn marks on the ceiling, causing around £300 worth of damage.

Roche was jailed for armed robbery in June of this year and is currently serving close to five years’ detention.

Within the space of three days, he twice stormed Evelyn’s Convenience Store on Pompee Road where he threatened the clerk with a knife and hammer, respectively.

Alistair Burleigh, defending, urged the court to consider the already lengthy sentence his client was serving as punishment enough for the vandalism charge.

“Events have moved on for this young man,” he said.

“He is still only 20-years-old and he has a long period of custody ahead of him.” Mr Burleigh then invited Sheriff Derek O’Carroll to impose a concurrent sentence which would allow Roche to serve his punishment at the same time as tariff for his previous offence.

However, Mr Burleigh’s pleas were not enough to dissuade the court and the sheriff handed Roche an additional 11 weeks to his sentence.

Sheriff O’Carroll said: “What considerably aggravates this act of vandalism is the fact that it took place in the court building.

“And given your current incarceration, there is only one possible sentence I see and that is to impose on you 11 weeks in custody what will run consecutively with your current sentence.

“This has been discounted from 16 weeks due to your early plea.”