Care home worker stole alcohol from residents
Ally McGilvray • Published 7 Feb 2012 09:31
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A CARE home worker this week admitted stealing alcohol from residents at his workplace near Melrose - the day before he was due to stand trial.
Thirty-seven-year-old Artur Maciaga, of Queens Way, Earlston, committed the offence while working at Grange Hall Care Home at Drygrange on August 7.
He also pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing and acting in a disorderly or drunken manner.
Maciaga had previously denied both offences during earlier hearings at the Justice of the Peace Court of the Scottish Borders in Selkirk. But he changed his plea to guilty shortly before he was due to stand trial on Thursday.
The court heard that all bottles belonging to residents at Grange Hall Care Home were labelled and kept in the medical room.
However, Maciaga, who was employed as a maintenance worker, was caught with a three-quarters-full bottle of whisky belonging to a resident in his bag after being confronted by staff who suspected he had arrived at work under the influence of alcohol.
Procurator Fiscal Tessa Bradley said: "He (Maciaga) became very abusive and when staff tried to calm him down the abuse continued and they called the police.
"He was shouting and swearing and had to be told to stop. His breath smelt strongly of alcohol and he was unsteady on his feet."
Maciaga also admitted stealing a bottle of win from the shop at Rhymers Tower Service Station in Earlston on October 26.
However, he pled not guilty to a further charge of being in possession of a stolen personal digital assistant at Summerfield in Earlston on November 8 and that plea was accepted by the court.
Maciaga's solicitor Matt Patrick blamed the break up of his client's marriage for his behaviour. But he pointed out he had since lost his job at the care home and was seeking counselling so that he could move on with his life.
Mr Patrick said: "He (Maciaga) is embarrassed and mortified that he has behaved in this way." But he added: "He told me he is desperate to put all this behind him."
Passing sentence, Justice of the Peace Margaret McVitie said Maciaga had breached his position of trust by stealing from the care home's residents. She fined him a total of £320.
Leaving the dock, Maciaga replied: "I'm sorry."
This article appeared in Border Telegraph 07 Feb 12
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