A Johnstone man who tried to steal a car fanatic’s BMW after arranging a test drive online with its owner has dodged a jail sentence.


David McGibbon, of Elm Drive, met Rubeel Farooq in the car park of Pure Gym, in Renfrew Road, Paisley, to buy a silver coupe advertised on Shpock.


But when Mr Farooq got out to change seats after the test drive, McGibbon drove off in his car.


Paisley Sheriff Court heard Mr Farooq gave chase on foot and, when McGibbon stopped at a junction, he caught up, opened the driver’s door and hauled him out and sending him on his way.


Reliving events, Mr Farooq said: “He said he liked the car and wanted to buy it and said he needed to go to the bank to get the money.


“I think I said I’d take him. He just looked at me and then drove off with the door wide open.”


After getting his car back, Mr Farooq went to a police station to report the theft bid, which took place on September 5, 2016.


McGibbon tried to deny the theft attempt was his doing as he conducted his own defence. 


Under cross-examination from the thief, Mr Farooq admitted anyone could create a Shpock profile, that the profile was not in McGibbon’s name and that no identification was required to open a Shpock account.


But Mr Farooq said: “You did that, 100 per cent you did that. You drove off in my car and I managed to catch up with you.”


McGibbon maintained his innocence but was convicted by Sheriff Seith Ireland, who called for background reports. 


When he returned to court this week to hear his fate, he gave the sheriff a letter pleading his case.


After pointing out that McGibbon had previously been placed on a Drug Treatment and Testing Order to try to get him clean and that he believed he could do another prison sentence “standing on his head”, Sheriff Ireland said: “You’re not out of the woods yet. You’ve got a dreadful record but I’ll take what you say at face value.

“You’re quite clear that you’re now at the age of 31, you don’t want to be in a revolving door for the next 10 years, coming in and out of Her Majesty’s prisons.

“This offence is almost two years old and I’m just persuaded by the fact you want, even at this stage, to see if you can do something more constructive but you can’t do it just now because you’re in custody.”


He deferred sentence for three months for McGibbon to spend time in the community when his current sentence – for breaking bail – ends. He will learn his fate in October.


The sheriff added: “If you get in trouble, all bets are off.”