A MAN has been jailed after he admitted stealing an Ardgowan Hospice charity tin from a Greenock shop in an act described by a sheriff as ‘despicable’.

Allan Brown took the box containing cash from PDC Copyprint on Cathcart Street on December 21 last year.

The 46-year-old was due to stand trial at Greenock Sheriff Court on Monday, but instead pleaded guilty to the single charge.

Fiscal depute Pamela Brady told the court that Brown arrived at the store at around 10:30am.

She said: “The accused entered and made enquiries about wedding stationery.

“He stated he was waiting on his partner arriving.

“He then advised that he couldn’t wait any longer as he was getting a train to Glasgow.”

Money was being collected for Ardgowan Hospice (Image: Newsquest) When the man working in the shop turned away, Brown lifted a charity box which had been sitting on the counter and placed it inside his jacket before leaving.

The witness immediately noticed it was missing and attempted to trace Brown.

He and another witness made their way to Greenock Central station, where they saw Brown standing on the platform.

The tin was discarded after they challenged him and it was later found to be empty.

One of the witnesses took a photo of Brown on his mobile phone before he made off.

Police traced Brown on West Stewart Street the following day.

Ms Brady noted that it was estimated the box contained up to £100 when it was stolen.

Rhona Lynch, Brown’s defence solicitor, said her client had been under the influence at the time of the incident and had a ‘vague’ recollection of events.

(Image: Newsquest) The court heard that he remembered receiving coins from the tin, but would be ‘very surprised’ if it amounted to £100.

Ms Lynch added: “Mr Brown accepts that this is a particularly reprehensible crime.

“He does have an unenviable schedule of convictions for matters of dishonesty.

“He was at a very low point in his life.

“He was homeless and had been begging in the town centre.”

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan told Brown: “You dispute the amount of monies that were estimated to be within the charity box, but regardless of the amount, this offence is a despicable one.”

From the dock, Brown said: “I agree.”

Sheriff McGeehan sentenced Brown, of Finnieston Street, to a period of 21 weeks imprisonment for the offence.