A LOCHGELLY man has been jailed for six months for a “despicable” theft after stealing almost £4000 from his own mother.

Kevin Coburn (39), of Erskine Street, was entrusted with a house key but took the opportunity to snatch a passport and money when his mother went on holiday for the weekend.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Coburn admitted that between 17th and 19th October 2014, at an address at Silverton Drive, Cardenden, he stole a safe containing documents and £3900 in cash.

Sheriff Charles Macnair blasted Coburn’s “deplorable” record and sent him to prison for six months.

Depute Fiscal, Dev Kapadia, told the Court that Coburn had a “strained relationship” with his mother due to a drug-related issue.

“He was given a house key for emergency use only,” he said. “There was a safe in the bedroom that contained a passport and money.

“His mother did not think he knew where it was and went on holiday for the weekend and told the accused she was going away.

“When she returned she realised something wasn’t right. She went to the bedroom and found the safe to be missing.” Subsequent enquiries led to Coburn being arrested, The safe and documents were returned but the money was still missing.

Defence solicitor, Andrew Robb, said that Coburn had historic drug debts.

“Those to whom he was due money caught up with him, found where he was staying and made threats to him,” he said. “That was the motivation for him being involved in this particular matter.

“He fully co-operated with the police as well as he could. He accepts full responsibility and appears to be genuinely sorry and not proud of his actions as he was attempting to rebuild bridges with his parents.” He added that Cobrun has made “obvious, albeit fruitless” efforts to repay the money, including attempting to sell a car.

Sheriff Macnair said that Coburn had a “deplorable” record for crimes of dishonesty and called the offence “despicable”.

“Your mother was attempting to rebuild bridges with you and you repaid those efforts by breaching the trust she gave you by giving you a key,” he said. “You breached it in a despicable manner.” He added that the offence was too serious for a non-custodial disposal and sentenced Coburn to six months in prison.