A SWEET tooth and sticky fingers proved to be a Tillicoultry man's undoing last week, as he admitted stealing confectionary by stuffing it down his trousers.

Raymond Banner, 40, pleaded guilty to three charges while in the dock at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, July 25 – two of shoplifting, and another of breaching bail conditions.

He stole £16.40 worth of food items from the Co-Op in Tilly on April 30, and went on to commit further offences in the town just a few months later, which took place at CWS Retail Services on July 18.

Fiscal depute Colette Fallon told the court: "At around 3.30pm, a witness who works at the store reviewed CCTV, having been informed by a member of the public that the accused had been [in the shop].

"The CCTV showed the accused entering at around 3.25pm to secrete two items of confectionary down his trousers and leave without paying."

The value of the sweets was £2.50, and by entering the shop to steal the items, Banner was also in breach of his bail conditions.

In court on Thursday, solicitor Kelly Howe said her client's first shoplifting offence was committed at a time when he was experiencing "significant financial difficulties".

And she went on to say that he had "absolutely no recollection" of the second incident due to intoxication – but claimed he accepted he had committed the offences.

Sheriff David Mackie deferred sentencing until October because Banner, of Union Street, still has other pending court cases.