A DAD was caught trying to steal from one Helensburgh supermarket - then pretended to be someone else when confronted by police at another.

Stephen Clark got into hot water at the Co-op and Morrisons stores in the town on the same day.

The 30-year-old appeared for sentencing last week after admitting two charges relating to incidents at the supermarkets on March 30 last year.

He pleaded guilty to charges of theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Clark was the subject of a bail order, granted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, at the time of both offences.

Fiscal depute Mandy Robertson told Dumbarton Sheriff Court that Clark was seen entering the Co-operative Food store on Sinclair Street at around 5.35pm, carrying a backpack.

Staff saw him removing a number of carrier bags and then attempting to leave the shore without attempting to pay.

Ms Robertson said Clark was challenged by staff at the store, and one of them tried to grab a carrier bag from him as he left.

The charge to which Clark pleaded guilty stated that he had stolen alcohol, though in the description of the incident given to the court, Ms Robertson said the stolen items were cleaning products.

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Clark, of Graham Road, Dumbarton, managed to leave the store and was gone by the time police arrived.

But he then went to the Morrisons supermarket on Cardross Road and, when police arrived at the store on an unrelated matter and spoke to him, gave them a number of false names.

He eventually did supply his true details and was arrested at the scene.

Ms Robertson said the stolen items, worth £250, were all recovered.

Defence solicitor Kenny McGowan said his client's priorities were now his partner and child.

Clark, Mr McGowan said, was currently on a community payback order from Edinburgh which had been transferred to West Dunbartonshire.

He added that Clark's offending in Helensburgh happened during a "period of relapse", and added: "He realises it's relatively early days."

Sheriff Clair McLachlan said: "According to the information [from social workers], he has been drug free for 14 months. I'm minded to draw a line under this today."

The sheriff said: "It's good to hear the progress you're making."

She fined him £110, and ordered him to pay a further £10 to the Scottish Government's victim surcharge fund.