A MAN was caught red-handed trying to take property from premises at the Westfield site.

Security received an alert to say an alarm was ringing in the early hours of the morning and when they attended they carried out a search with a dog.

They discovered that there was small break in the fence and after Edward Morris was found in the building with a rucksack of tools and a head torch.

Morris, 48, of Kingsdale Gardens, Kennoway, previously admitted that on May 6 he was found in the curtilage of Fife Energy Ltd, Westfield, without lawful authority to be there so that, in all the circumstances, it may be reasonably inferred that he intended to commit theft there.

Defence solicitor, Sarah Meehan, said he had only been there to retrieve his tools in connection to another incident.

"His purpose was to retrieve his tools but he accepts that if had found copper he would have taken it," Ms Meehan said.

"Mr Morris has a lengthy record before the Court but at the time he was struggling with financial difficulties and has a large amount of debt and this clouded his judgement."

Sheriff Craig McSherry said he found Morris's explanation was completely unreasonable and placed him on a restriction of liberty order for eight months, as direct alternative to custody.