A BRAZEN thief tried to make off with two expensive beauty products in a raid on a Greenock town centre store.

Kevin Nixon tried to nick a Babyliss hairdryer and a shiatsu massager from Boots in the Oak Mall earlier this year.

But the 48-year-old dropped the two items when he was approached by a member of shop staff. 

He then barged his way through the store's fire door before making good his escape before cops caught up with him.

But the Berwick Road resident was spared a jail term when he appeared for sentencing at the town's sheriff court.

Nixon had previously pleaded guilty to two charges following the incident on March 19, admitting theft by shoplifting and wilfully or recklessly destroying or damaging property by forcing open the security door.

Sentence had been deferred to allow a social worker time to prepare a background report.

He had also been charged with assaulting a retail worker by striking her on the head with boxed goods, but his plea of not guilty to that accusation was accepted by the Crown.

The court was told that Nixon lifted the items, worth £89, at around 1pm, and was observed by a staff member ‘walking briskly’ towards the main door.

The witness asked him to stop, but instead Nixon started to run, eventually throwing both items to the ground.

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A fiscal depute told the court: “He continued past the witness towards the fire door.

“He used his full weight to force open the fire door, causing damage to the hinges, before making off.”

Police were then contacted and attended at the store.

Defence solicitor Gerry Keenan told the court that the incident was ‘an exercise to gain funds’ due to a ‘habit’ his client had been ‘struggling with’.

He said Nixon had recently been made subject to a community payback order for a separate offence, which included a requirement to carry out unpaid work.

Sheriff Sean Lynch told Nixon: “Having heard from Mr Keenan, and having read the [social work] report, I’m satisfied that there is an alternative to custody.”

Nixon was ordered to carry out an additional 35 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody.