A SERIAL thief who carried out a spate of shoplifting offences throughout Dunfermline has been jailed for 240 days.

John Jarvie, 39, of Broomhead Drive, returned to Dunfermline Sheriff Court after previously admitting a string of offences.

On March 21, at Boots the Chemist, Kingsgate Centre, he stole a quantity of razors.

On March 29, at Debenhams, Kingsgate Centre, he stole a quantity of fragrances.

On April 15, at the Co-op, Linburn Road, he stole a quantity of meat.

On April 27, at Tesco Express, Aberdour Road, he stole a quantity of meat.

On April 28, at McColls, St Andrews Street, he stole a quantity of meat, deodorant and coffee.

The court heard that Jarvie was released from a previous jail term in October.

Defence solicitor James Moncrieff had told the court: “He accepts he has gone off the rails quite spectacularly.

“He was struggling quite badly because of his heroin dependency.”

At the previous hearing, Sheriff Alison McKay had described Jarvie’s record as “quite atrocious”.

When he returned for sentencing, Sheriff Charles MacNair jailed Jarvie for 240 days. However, he deferred sentence on two of the charges until August 23 when Jarvie will have to return to court.