Dundee chocolate thief is ordered to pay previous fines

A thief had sentence deferred until August 1 to start paying two outstanding fines after offending again.

Murray Thompson, 49, of Fairbairn Street, admitted stealing chocolates from Tesco in Nethergate last Tuesday.

Fiscal depute Kirsten Letford told Dundee Sheriff Court that staff saw Thompson on CCTV and intercepted him as he was leaving the store.

He handed the box of chocolates to them immediately.

Sheriff Lorna Drummond said Thompson already had two fines outstanding and had not paid a penny towards them.

Solicitor Carolyn Leckie said Thompson was a chronic alcoholic who had been drinking to excessive levels and had been prioritising alcohol over food.

He was applying to have the fines paid directly from his benefits, she said.