A COUPLE went on a crime spree across Tillicoultry, stealing almost £3,000 worth of goods.

On Thursday at Alloa Sheriff Court, Martin Dowds and Claire Walker were due to be sentenced for the three thefts.

Fiscal depute Ruairidh Ferguson told the court that the two accused entered an unlocked motor vehicle on Park Street between January 30 and February 1, 2016, and nicked a quantity of fishing equipment and power tools worth £2,305.

Between February 22 and 23, 2016, they entered an insecure motor vehicle on Kingseat Drive and stole a quantity of money, a pair of sunglasses and a mobile phone all worth £303.

On the same night, they entered another unlocked motor on Jamieson Gardens and nabbed a quantity of clothing, a car seat, a wallet containing bank cards, and a mobile phone all worth £340.

When the police searched the couple's house, officers recovered the iPhone stolen from Kingseat Drive, and a jacket, the car seat and a credit card from the Jamieson Gardens theft.

When interviewed by police, 31-year-old Dowds claimed that the items found were gifts.

On being charged for the thefts, he stated: "Yes, that's a load of crap."

Defending, Claire McCarron stated that Dowds accepted full responsibility for his actions.

She claimed that at the time of the offences, he was struggling with drug addiction.

Ms McCarron explained that the accused suffered from pain which influenced him taking drugs, but he has since attended Signpost and is now on a stable prescription.

Dowds was said to have gone through health difficulties, was hospitalised for two weeks, and will have to undergo an operation to remove fluid from his lungs.

Ms McCarron said that Dowds and Walker, both of Stalker Avenue in Tillicoultry, had a baby recently removed from their care.

She claimed that Dowds was "proud" of his son and was "motivated" to get him back by cleaning up.

Sheriff David Mackie noted the progress Dowds has been making and stated that jail would cause "more harm than good".

He sentenced Dowds to a Community Payback Order with supervision for 18 months.

Sheriff Mackie also put a Restriction of Liberty Order in place, in which Dowds will have to stay at home every night for six months between 8pm-5am.

Walker, 30, turned up to court but failed to make it into the dock after she was detained on another matter. Her sentence has been deferred until July 28.