Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Stolen car found in Ardrossan Dock

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 10th April 1970

STOLEN CAR FOUND IN DOCK

A 21-year old Saltcoats man who stole a motor car which was later recovered from Ardrossan Harbour by a Police Sub-Aqua team, was sent to prison for two months at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Thursday.

The accused admitted stealing the car from Dock Road, Ardrossan, on April 1 or 2 : he also admitted driving the car without licence or insurance.

The Fiscal, Mr. J. Bown, said that the owner of the car had left it in Dock Road, Ardrossan, on the evening of April 1 while he went on a trip to Arran.
The accused had been drinking with a sailor and later called at the sailor's ship about midnight and said he had a car.
They drove to West Kilbride.
The accused later returned to the ship in a state of excitement and said that the car had fallen into the dock.

A Police Sub-Aqua team searched for the car but could not find it.
Later, accused was interviewed and took them to the quay, where the car was found. The vehicle, valued at ?130, was damaged beyond repair, said the Fiscal.

When cautioned and charged, accused had said: "I was lucky to get out before it went over."
An agent for the accused said he had been working in Birmingham but had come back to Saltcoats to help his mother. He had been unemployed but was due to start work at Linwood on monday.

Accused was sent to prison for two months and disqualified from driving for three years on the theft charge. He was admonished on the driving charges.