Ex-footballer Alan Lawrence guilty of postal theft

Alan Lawrence in his playing days for Hearts. Picture: SNS

Alan Lawrence, one of Airdrieonians’ Scottish Cup heroes of the 1990’s pled guilty at Airdrie Sheriff Court today to a charge of stealing postal packets and their contents, over a year.

Lawrence, 51, of West Drive, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, carried out the theft from Airdrie Delivery Office, Buchanan Street, Airdrie, between May 31, 2011 and May 31, 2012.

Lawrence, nicknamed “Nipper” during his playing days, was present in court when his case was called at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

Through lawyer, Paul Belardo, Lawrence confirmed he was pleading guilty to the offences. Asked by Sheriff Petra Collins to confirm he was pleading guilty, he nodded his head and said “yes.”

Prosecutor Lindsay Mains said: “The value of the contents stolen came to £500. When interviewed by police he made full admissions. The offence took place at various times during that year while he was employed by the Royal Mail. As a result of anonymous information post office investigators tagged postal packets, which were subsequently went missing, traced to Mr Lawrence’s home and recovered. The packets contained sums of money totalling £500.”

Sheriff Collins deferred sentence until next month for background reports, including supervision and unpaid work. He was ordained to appear.

Lawrence left court refusing to make any comment.

Career

Lawrence, whose career spanned 20 years, began with Meadowbank Thistle, now Livingston, and then moved on to Dundee, before joining Airdrieonians in March 1989, playing in the successful Diamonds’ sides, under manager Alex MacDonald, which won promotion to the SPL and reached the 1992 Scottish Cup Final losing to Rangers and the 1995 final, losing to Celtic.

He also played in the only ever Airdrieonians side which played in European football, lining up in 1992 against Czech Republic giants Sparta Prague in the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Lawrence also had spells with Hearts, Partick Thistle, Stenhousemuir, Cowdenbeath and Arbroath, finishing his playing career in 2004, before joining the Airdrie United backroom staff.

As a player he made more than 200 appearances during three spells for the Diamonds, scoring 52 goals.