A ROMANIAN who was caught shoplifting during a trip to Dunfermline has finally been sentenced more than 18 months later.

Gheorghe Stoica, 45, of Old Tollbooth Wynd, Edinburgh, previously admitted that on March 7 last year at Debenhams in the Kingsgate Centre, while acting with another, he stole two bottles of perfume.

He admitted the offence at Dunfermline Sheriff Court the following day but did not turn up for sentencing in April last year.

Defence solicitor Chris Sneddon said: “There was a medical emergency and he had to return to Romania.”

A warrant was granted and Stoica finally returned to court, appearing from custody and accompanied by a translator.

The thief was now working “in security”, said his solicitor.

Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown fined Stoica £300.