A BRAZEN thief stole a near-£1,000 clothing haul from a busy Irvine store as he looked to fund his crack cocaine addiction.
Kieran McLaughlan was later caught with a blade once he was tracked down by police, having evaded shop staff in pursuit from Sports Direct.
The 22-year-old was sentenced for the offences when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court earlier this week.
McLaughlan, previously of Kilmarnock, pleaded guilty to theft by shoplifting and knife possession.
The incident took place at around 2.40pm on November 25 last year, prosecutor Craig Wainwright told the court.
McLaughlan entered the Riverway Retail Park shop, alongside another male, and proceeded to fill up his basket with a large number of items.
"He then left," Mr Wainwright added, "making no attempt to pay. This triggered the alarm and both he and the other male were pursued on foot through the car park by shop staff."
McLaughlan initially evaded capture but was found by police "following a foot chase" on Church Street.
He was subsequently arrested and searched, during which officers found a lock-back knife, with a three-inch blade, in the waistband of his shorts.
He was then taken to Saltcoats police office where he was formally cautioned and charged.
All stolen items were later recovered by police, with the total value confirmed to be £948.89.
Defending, solicitor Brian Holliman admitted that - due to McLaughlan's record of previous convictions - a custodial sentence was inevitable in this case.
The lawyer stated that the offence was committed amid ongoing issues with drug addiction, which he says the Kilmarnock man has overcome whilst remanded in custody for this matter.
He added: “For a period of four to eight weeks, an escalating problem with crack cocaine developed.
“This theft was committed to raise money to fund that addiction.
“In fairness to him, he has detoxified from all illicit substances whilst in custody. He appears better for it.”
Sentencing, Sheriff David Hall ordered McLaughlan to spend a period of 24 months in prison, backdated to his initial remand on November 26 last year.
He said: “You have an unenviable record for someone so young and I am satisfied that only a custodial sentence is appropriate today.”
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