A DISABLED Rosyth pensioner agreed to help a complete stranger who turned up at his door asking for money.
While the Good Samaritan OAP went to get the cash, Philip Reid went looking for more money elsewhere in the house.
Philip Reid, 39, of Letham Avenue, Leven, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
He admitted that on October 7, 2019, at an address in Rosyth, he stole a quantity of money from a man, then aged 78.
Depute fiscal Jill Currie said Reid had gone to the home of a neighbour of the victim. Reid knew that person and had been hoping to sell him some items or borrow money.
When this proved unsuccessful, he went to the home of the victim, someone he did not know.
He managed to persuade the man to lend him some money for bus fare.
The victim slowly went to get him £20 and while he was away, Reid went rummaging in drawers and found £40 which he stole.
The old man then returned and handed Reid £20 unaware of the theft.
When later arrested, Reid told police: “I apologise. I was vallied out my head.”
Defence solicitor Gordon Martin said the money had not been repaid but Reid had now turned up at the court with £40.
“He’s got a poor record but it’s slowed down quite markedly,” he added.
Sheriff Alastair Brown put Reid on a four-month restriction of liberty order and ordered him to pay £60 compensation.
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