AN ALLOA man has been jailed after phoning the police on Christmas Day to say he wanted to kill his sister.

Anthony Hesketh found himself before a sheriff on Thursday for the telephone call in which he repeatedly uttered the threats.

He was also charged with having stolen a number of bank cards which he used to take money out of ATMs, and had breached a community payback order.

Last week, the court heard that Hesketh had called the police on December 25 last year.

He made comments about killing his sister, saying he had phoned because "I want her dead".

When the conversation came to an end, officers were sent out to check on his sibling and he was then arrested.

He was later cautioned and charged, admitting it was "stupid", and his lawyer told the courtroom there had been no intention to harm his sister.

The defence spoke of a "significant problem" with alcohol use.

He said that the circumstances prior to the offence had seen the family gather for the festive day.

Alcohol had been consumed and according to his client, there had been an altercation which made him upset.

This led to the phone call which he made from his home while heavily under the influence.

The lawyer said: "He tells me now that he is very embarrassed about the things he said."

The solicitor said Hesketh is not a violent offender, adding: “These threats were empty and fuelled by alcohol misuse.”

When the 24-year-old appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court, he was also charged with having taken his mother’s bank cards on March 11 of this year.

On the same day, at Lornshill Crescent, Alloa, Murray Place, Stirling, Stirling railway station, as well as High Street and Potterow, both Edinburgh, he took £350.

The court heard Hesketh, of Gean Road, had felt under "considerable pressure" to repay debts.

He was warned by Sheriff Smith that he had been given "chance after chance" and that there was no option but to impose a prison sentence.

He was given a total of nine months and 80 days, backdated to when he was remanded on March 14.