A ONE-LEGGED man in a wheelchair who launched a smash-and-grab raid on the Alloa Boots was jailed for 14 months last week.

John Connell's stump was hurting so he decided to break into the chemist in the town centre on May 2 this year to help himself to painkillers.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard he took over an hour to wheel himself there before hurling a brick through the glass front door and hauling himself on his remaining limb to the medicine counter.

There he was arrested, lying on the floor, before he could take a single pill.

Prosecutor Michael Maguire said: "At 5.01am, police received a report of a one-legged male in a wheelchair throwing a brick at the front door of Boots.

"Officers attended and observed the bottom glass panel in the door had been smashed, and an empty wheelchair was next to the door.

"Police entered via the damaged door and traced the accused lying on the floor behind the pharmacy counter."

No items appeared to be missing from the shop.

Connell was arrested and taken to Falkirk police station, where he became threatening and abusive, telling officers "I'll stab you, I'll punch you, I'll bite your nose off" before spitting on the floor.

Mr Maguire said: "He was repeatedly warned about his behaviour, but he refused to desist."

Appearing by video link from Low Moss Prison, Connell, of Clackmannan, pleaded guilty to breaking in with intent to steal, breaching bail, and a statutory breach of the peace.

Solicitor Simon Hutchison, defending, said: "Mr Connell had previously had a leg amputated and on the evening in question he was in a lot of pain and had run out of painkillers.

"He had drunk a lot of alcohol to try to mask the pain, but unfortunately that didn't work.

"Because he'd had too much to drink he didn't think of the consequences and he stupidly went to Boots to attempt to obtain painkillers.

"I'm advised it took him at least an hour to get to the chemist, where he accepts he thereafter broke in."

Imposing the 14-month jail term, Sheriff William Gilchrist told Connell he had "a deplorable record".

He said: "Imprisonment is obviously the only disposal."