A CALLOUS thief - who left a woman too scared to stay in her own home and stole a TV because it was his birthday - has been at it again.

As reported in the Advertiser previously, 44-year-old Richard Beresford was placed on a Community Payback Order with supervision for 12 months and given 120 hours of unpaid work for stealing a laptop, iPod and charger from two vehicles in the Wee County on May 25 last year.

Beresford, of Garvally Crescent in Alloa, had also pleaded guilty to smashing a window pane in an attempt to break into a house in the town's Sandpiper Meadow on July 11, 2016.

In addition, he admitted stealing a telly worth £459 from a van delivering goods in Alloa's Tummel Court on August 31 last year.

In February, fiscal depute Ruaraidh Ferguson told Alloa Sheriff Court that the impact of the attempted housebreaking was so severe, the woman who lived there had to move house.

Mr Ferguson also reported that Beresford admitted stealing the television, confessing to police: "It was daft, it was my birthday, I was daft."

At the time, Sheriff Christopher Shead deferred sentence for the attempted housebreaking and TV theft to monitor the accused's progress on the CPO.

Returning to court on March 30, defence agent Kelly Howe claimed that Beresford was engaging with services and had completed a "great number" of unpaid work hours.

Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill deferred sentence further until April 20 for the accused's good behaviour to continue.

However returning to court on Thursday, Beresford admitted attempting to break into The Bank in Alloa's Bank Street with intent to steal on March 13 this year.

Defending, Ms Howe claimed that her client had been admitted to hospital with a significant injury, but had discharged himself and could not remember the incident that landed him back in custody.

Beresford was said to struggle with stress, alcohol and illicit substances, and had not coped well with the death of his mum and friend.

Ms Howe stated that it was not lost on the accused that he faces prison if he continues to offend.

Sheriff David Mackie sentenced Beresford to a Community Payback Order with 160 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months for attempting to break into The Bank.

Sentence was once again deferred on the attempted housebreaking and TV theft until August 10 to monitor the accused's progress.