A HELENSBURGH shoplifter who stole from the same supermarket three times has been praised by a sheriff for turning his life around.

Neil Cairns previously pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of food from the Tesco store on Sinclair Street on May 16 this year.

And then five days later, whilst acting with another man, he took a quantity of fresh meat from the same shop.

He returned to Tesco for a third time with a woman on May 29 stealing a quantity of alcohol.

The 45-year-old, of Johnson Court, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on November 8 for sentencing, where his lawyer Kenneth McGowan told the court that his client has been making positive changes whilst on a community payback order for a different offence.

The solicitor said: "He is doing really well and is accompanied by his support worker."

The court heard that Cairns stole £100 worth of food on his first visit to the supermarket and then a combined total of £121 from his second and third thefts.

None of the stolen items were recovered.

Sheriff Lorna Anderson said: "In light of the positive report and the efforts that have been made I am going to draw a line under those two complaints.

"Now, that will still leave with you with other matters, so I am going to further defer."

Addressing Cairns, she added: "Keep up the good work and keep trying with the progress you have made."

The sheriff admonished Cairns of both charges, however, he will return to the court in January for a community payback order review and sentencing on an outstanding matter.