A MAN has been jailed for stealing a pair of straighteners. 

Sheriff Charles Macnair told Kevin Douglas that he had the "most appalling record for dishonesty" and jailed him four months plus another 180 days for a separate offence. 

Douglas, 37, of Morley Crescent, Stirling, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court last Wednesday. 

He previously admitted that on August 7, at Boots Chemist in Dunfermline's Kingsgate Centre, he did steal a quantity of electrical goods and he did commit this offence whilst on bail. 

Depute fiscal Katrina Dalrymple told the court that at around 2pm on the date in question, a message was passed through the shop radio describing a man who was acting suspiciously. 

A female in the store began to keep an eye on him and saw the man walk to the electrical aisle and pick up a pair of straighteners. 

The man inspected the electrical items and appeared to be looking to see if the product had any security tags but then put the item back down and walked out of the shop. 

Douglas then came back to Boots when he thought no-one was looking and took the straighteners. 

He was arrested quickly and the full value of the electrical item, £70, was recovered.

Defence solicitor Mr Savage said his client had a history of offending but hoped his sentence could be dealt with in the community. 

"Mr Douglas has been engaging with drug services," he said. 

"There were issues in his childhood and he has been taking heroin since the age of 14.

"He has been caught in this trap for 23 years."

Sheriff Charles Macnair said: "You have the most appalling record for dishonesty. You were short of money so you stole just a week after you were placed on bail and you were also serving the second half of a custodial sentence. 

"If the allegations in the report are true then you deserve sympathy but you do not deserve sympathy for your crimes of dishonesty. 

"I believe a community payback order is not sufficient so you will return to prison for 180 days for your previous sentence and you will be placed for in custody for four months for this offence."