A Romanian national paid a visit to Alloa and was caught trying to steal almost £600 worth of alcohol from a supermarket.

Catalin Avram, 36, of Barclay Street, Glasgow, appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court from custody accompanied by a translator.

He admitted that on February 19 at Morrisons, Clackmannan Road, Alloa, he and another man attempted to steal a quantity of alcohol.

Sheriff Neil Bowie was not impressed by Avram’s story about how the offence came about.

He claimed he had been in Alloa looking for work and “bumped into someone he knew from Romania”. They then tried to steal £585 worth of alcohol from the supermarket.

Avram also has shoplifting convictions in Aberdeen and Glasgow. He is currently in custody for immigration matters.

The sheriff jailed Avram for 80 days.