Perth shoe thief got in touch with his feminine side

A twinkle-toed thief got in touch with his feminine side by stealing ladies’ footwear.

Perth Sheriff Court heard how Alexander Brown was caught on CCTV swapping his own trainers for a newer pair and fleeing from the store.

He repeated his illicit shopping spree over a month-long period, targeting bargain retailers Brantano and TX Maxx, both based at St Catherine’s Retail Park, in a bid to feed his drug habit.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said: “He was captured on CCTV selecting the training shoes from a display, trying them on and then taking his own training shoes and putting them on display.

“He stayed in the store for a short while and then walked from the store.”

Brown used the same tactics four times to steal over £160 worth of items between May 11 and June 2.

Solicitor Paul Ralph told the court his 23-year-old client came from a “difficult background” as both his parents suffer from drug and alcohol addictions.

As well as stealing shoes, Brown, of Stanley Crescent, Perth, also admitted that on May 15, at Halfords, he stole two lights.

He was sentenced to six months in prison for the offences.