A sneak thief who emptied a woman’s bank account after chancing upon her bank card and pin number was fined £140 and ordered to pay his victim £250 in compensation.
David Smith spotted an unattended jacket at the Lizard Lounge nightclub in St Andrews and made-off with it before its owner could return.
Within the pockets he found a drivers licence, mobile telephone and bank cards, together with a note of the owner’s pin.
The court heard he had seized upon the opportunity and made his way home to Leuchars, where he used one of the cards to steal £250 from a bank machine at the local Spar.
Police officers subsequently visited the store and identified the 24-year-old from CCTV footage.
Smith, 24, of Cowbackie Crescent, admitted stealing a jacket from the Lizard Lounge and also stealing £250 from an ATM machine.
When traced, Smith told officers: “I’m sorry to get you involved. If there is any way to reimburse the person, I’ll do it.”
