A DUNFERMLINE man has been jailed after he was caught stealing bottles of alcohol from a local supermarket.

Michael Smith, 47, of Ericht Drive, who helped himself to whisky, gin and vodka, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on March 15, at Tesco, Turnstone Road, Dunfermline, he stole a quantity of alcohol.

Depute fiscal Freya Anderson-Ward said Smith had stolen a bottle of Baileys, a bottle of vodka, a Talisker whisky gift set, a Gordon’s gin gift set and a Jack Daniel's gift set.

He left without making any attempt to pay and a shop worker alerted a colleague in security.

Smith was stopped trying to leave the store with the stolen goods in a sports holdall.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said his client had a long-standing drugs issue and was stealing to fund it.

Sheriff Alastair Brown told Smith: “You have a dreadful criminal record. The public and shopkeepers are entitled to expect the courts to protect them from shoplifting.”

He jailed Smith for 10 months.