Thief swiped a Greenock bus driver's bag while her back was turned

John Jannetts lifted the supermarket carrier from the unwitting woman's cab area whilst she dealt with a handful of loose change he'd given her for his fare.

Jannetts, 43, remained on the McGill's bus until the service terminated at Kilblain Street bus station, and calmly strolled past his victim as he got off.

The multiple offender — who has more than 30 convictions for dishonesty — had just been released early from a prison sentence for a knife crime when he committed the theft last month.

Prosecutor Pamela Brady told the town's sheriff court: "The accused boarded the bus and handed over a large quantity of change.

"He was 2p short and requested money from a passenger to pay his fare.

"The driver turned to put the money away and the accused reached into the driver's area and lifted the bag."

The court heard how the woman didn't notice the Iceland bag was missing until it was time for her lunch break on June 9.

However, it turned up later — minus her phone and keys — on another bus she'd been scheduled to drive.

Fiscal depute Mrs Brady said: "The accused had boarded this bus in possession of the stolen bag and left without it.

"Police located him on June 11 and he was under the influence of alcohol.

"The iPhone was found in his trouser leg.

"As a result of her keys having been stolen, the complainer had to pay £148 to have her locks changed."

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher told how Jannetts had taken drugs and 'cannot remember the offence'.

Mr Gallagher said: "On any view it was a mean theft.

"His record speaks for itself."

Sheriff Thomas Ward told Jannetts: "You've got pages and pages and pages of previous convictions, including numerous for dishonesty.

"Mr Gallagher has categorised this theft as mean, and it certainly was."

The sheriff returned Jannetts, of the Inverclyde Centre, to prison for the remaining 163 days of his sentence for knife possession, and gave him a further nine months for the theft.