Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Stolen dinghy overturned at Largs, two men in Court

From "The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 7th October 1960

STOLEN DINGHY OVERTURNED

Two men in Court

Two men who stole a dinghy from Largs beach and attempted in the darkness to cross the Firth of Clyde to Millport, had to swim for their lives when the boat overturned.
They reached a cruising yacht, "Sheila," moored in Castle Bay, Largs, and remained on the craft overnight.

At Largs Police Court on Monday the two men admitted stealing two dinghies valued at ?20 each from Largs beach.
The Fiscal, Mr. David Lewis, said that on Saturday night the men had asked a boat hirer to take them to Millport, but he refused because of stormy weather.
Next day it was found that two dinghies were missing.

On Sunday afternoon the Police received a report that two men were signalling from a yacht in Castle Bay.
They were brought ashore and later charged.
The accused told the Police that while attempting to launch the first dinghy, it drifted away.

When charged, one of the accused said : "We were desperate to get to Millport to see a friend who was going to America."
The dinghies, the Fiscal said, were found drifting off Cumbrae.
One was badly damaged.

One of the accused was fined ?5, and the other, who had a previous conviction for theft, was fined ?8.