A WOMAN who stole cosmetics worth more than £500 in Debenhams Dunfermline told a court: "I’m a kleptomaniac".

Drug addict Alison McKenzie-Ross took a foil bag with her for the thieving trip, which proved unsuccessful when she was caught with the goods in Debenhams.

She told police: “I’m a kleptomaniac.”

The incident resulted in an appearance at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for McKenzie-Ross, 51, of St Mary’s Place, Kirkcaldy.

She admitted that on September 30, at Debenhams, Kingsgate Centre, she stole a quantity of cosmetics.

Depute fiscal Claire Bremner told the court the value of the stolen goods was £556.

When cautioned and charged, McKenzie-Ross said: “I’m a kleptomaniac. I was advised a couple of years ago to take a foil bag with me.”

Defence solicitor Sarah Meehan said: “The catalyst is her drug addiction. She has struggled with it for a number of years and relapsed back into heroin misuse at this time.

“She accepts that clearly there was an element of planning. She entered the shop with a foil-lined bag and it’s only through good fortune the shop is not out of pocket as there was full recovery.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair deferred sentence until June 21 to find out if McKenzie-Ross can carry out unpaid work.