Killer 'Mad Dog' McCafferty avoids jail for resetting stolen car

Infamous Archie "Mad Dog" McCafferty, who was deported from Australia to Scotland, after serving 25 years in prison for the murder of three people, has instead been ordered to perform 200 hours of Community Service.

The 58-year-old, now called James Lok, emigrated to Australia with his family, while a child.

He was returned to Scotland in 1998. At a previous appearance in Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Lok of Beaverbank Place, Broughton, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to reset of a Volvo car between October 2 and 6 last year.

Sentence was deferred until today for background reports.

Lok's defence agent, Rory Bannerman, told Sheriff Charles Stoddart that Lok was disappointed with himself and the stupidity of the offence.

Since returning to this country, Mr Bannerman said Lok had only a drink driving offence and the reset against him.

He was now in a long-term relationship and was in full-time employment. The reports showed he was at lower risk of reoffending than in the past.

Sheriff Stoddart told Lok that in view of what was in the reports and what had been said on his behalf, he was not considering a custodial sentence.

The Sheriff said he would have ordered Lok to do 240 hours of Community Service as an alternative to prison, but, because of his early guilty plea, he would reduce this to 200 hours.

He warned Lok that in view of his record, if he breached the order, he could be sent into custody.