A MAN stole £38 of alcohol from a Cowdenbeath store to sell to a stranger for £10 - because he didn’t have any money.

Thomas Watson Lennox (47), of Tinian Crescent, Newmills, had rent arrears as well as debts to gas and electricity suppliers and barely had money left to live on when he committed the offence at the Co-op in Cowdenbeath last year.

Appearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Lennox admitted that on 22nd December 2014 at the Co-operative on Dalbeath Crescent, he stole a quantity of alcohol while on bail.

Depute fiscal, Dana Forbes, said, “The accused approached a member of staff and engaged in small talk.

“He took alcohol from the shelf and put it into his basket.” The Court heard how staff became suspicious and checked CCTV to see that Lennox had then put the alcohol in his jacket.

Ms Forbes continued, “On 28th December, police officers attended an unrelated call in Dunfermline.

“The accused was there and he admitted he took the items because he didn’t have any money.” Lennox sold the items to a stranger for £10 for money, and the £38 value of the goods was never recovered.

Defence solicitor, Stephen Morrison, said that Lennox had “clearly got himself into difficulty”.

“He had substantial debt difficulties though he accepts this is no excuse,” he said.

“He had debts to gas and electricity suppliers and rent arrears and was trying to address those with benefit money, leaving him with little else to live on. He accepts full responsibility.” In passing sentence Sheriff Christopher Shead decided against a custodial sentence, saying it would not serve the public interest, and ordered Lennox to complete 70 hours of unpaid work within six months.