A MAN has been spared jail after nicking over £1,000 worth of clothes from a fashionable store at Ayr Central.

Glasgow man, John McLean appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court last week where he admitted to nabbing the items.

McLean, 42, helped himself to £1228 worth of clothes from the shop back in October 2015.

He was later traced thanks to CCTV footage which showed him carrying bundles of bags of clothes out of the store.

Defence lawyer, Gregor Forbes said: “He was in Ayr that day to take his child to a caravan site with his grandmother.

“Before heading back to Glasgow he had quite a bit to drink.

“He acted in this fashion because he was short of money and because of the alcohol he had consumed.

“He tells me he sold them for a sum of £100.”

Sheriff Desmond Leslie blasted McLean, telling him he was lucky to avoid jail.

He said: “I think you can count yourself very fortunate that you are not going into custody given the value of the items taken.”

Sheriff Leslie tagged McLean for three months and also ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and 18 months supervision.