Comedian spared jail... and judge plans to see show

Published on Thursday 24 April 2008 13:25

A STAND-UP comic convicted of stealing from his employer was spared jail today – after a judge said he would like to go and see him perform at the Edinburgh Festival.

Gary Little, 44, faced being sent back to prison for re-offending while on licence for a drugs conviction.

The comedian, who is well known on the Scottish comedy circuit, was freed in 1999 but went on to steal 50,000 worth of books from a publishing company and sold them on eBay.

Little began taking the books from HarperCollins 47 days short of the end of his four-year licence period.

At a hearing at Glasgow High Court, Lord McEwan said he had "stumbled at the last fence" and told Little he would not add to his troubles.

The judge said he would not impose a jail order and he hoped to see Little perform in Edinburgh later this year.

Lord McEwan said: "He almost got through to the last fence and stumbled.

"He's got enough trouble and I think it would be unmerciful if I was to add to it.

"My view of this is that the right thing to do would be to make no order and hopefully he will be able to appear at the Festival in Edinburgh.

"I might even go and see him."

Little turned to stand-up after serving four years of an eight-year drug sentence. He was freed in 1999 and later worked as a forklift driver at HarperCollins' warehouse in Bishopbriggs.

Little stole thousands of titles which he says were damaged and due to be incinerated and began selling them on auction website eBay.

His lawyer Liam O'Donnell said Little had been suffering depression at the time of the offence but was "getting his life together" now.

Mr O'Donnell said of his client: "He is a very successful comedian. He has his own show planned for the Edinburgh Festival this year.

"He has played in London and done a number of charity shows as well."

Little will be sentenced for the theft of the books on April 29.