A THIEF who walked out of a Dunfermline shop with three Celtic tops then punched a security guard has been jailed.

Ryan Clark, 31, of the James Bank Hostel, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

He had previously admitted that on February 3, at JD Sports in the Kingsgate Centre, he stole three replica football shirts.

He also assaulted a man in the course of his employment by struggling violently with him and punching him on the face.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said Clark went into the shop at around 1.15pm and removed three replica Celtic shirts valued at £55 each.

"He made no attempt to conceal them and simply walked out of the store holding the shirts above the security sensors in an attempt to stop the tags from activating the alarm," he told the court.

"Clearly, it didn't work and the alarm sounded."

A member of staff followed him along with a security officer from the centre. They chased him and caught him on James Street with the help of two other security officers who had joined in the chase.

Clark punched one of the men in the face during the struggle, which saw him restrained on the ground.

Solicitor Ian Beatson said his client had consumed a "considerable amount" of Valium on the day of the theft and had little recollection of what had taken place.

"This is his first offence since 2014," he added. "He is very disappointed in himself."

Sheriff James Macdonald jailed Clark for five months.

"Violence inflicted against employees of retail premises will not be tolerated," he told him. "It is clear to me I require, in selecting an appropriate sentence, to protect the public and to deter you from offending and to punish you."