A COWDENBEATH man with a “truly dreadful record” has been jailed again for shoplifting.

Barry Laidlaw, 48, of Pretoria Road, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court by video-link from prison.

He admitted that on October 25 last year, at the Co-op store, Bank Street, Lochgelly, he stole a quantity of meat.

Then, on January 2, at the same store, he stole a quantity of alcohol.

The court was told the stolen goods had a total value of £87.

Defence solicitor Stephen Morrison said: “Over the years, there have been addiction issues with drugs and alcohol. Things were not going well and his mental health had deteriorated.”

Sheriff Mark O’Hanlon jailed Laidlaw for 80 days for these latest offences.

Laidlaw had been jailed previously for similar crimes.

In August 2017, Laidlaw was jailed after going on a two-week shoplifting spree, stealing goods worth £700 to fund his heroin habit.

On that occasion, he was jailed for nine months by Sheriff Charles MacNair, who told Laidlaw: “You have a truly dreadful record.”

Then, last month, he was jailed for six months for a disturbance at his home.

He smashed windows and used pieces of broken glass to slash his wrist.

Laidlaw had barricaded himself in his house and threw a shard of glass at a police officer who was handing him some water.

The disturbance, in the early hours of the morning, went on for several hours and police reinforcements, including dog-handlers and negotiators, had to be called in.

Officers had been sent to the house after Laidlaw claimed falsely there were intruders in his home.