Thief argued about booze

A MAN who stole booze from a shop was arrested after he returned and had an argument with the staff about it nine months later.

Scott Bates, 20, stole two bottles of Buckfast from Nisa Stores in Whitburn in February last year. But when he went back into the shop in November, staff Mohammed Sharif and Abdul Quyyum recognised him.

They accused him of being responsible for the theft and Bates retaliated by shouting racial abuse at them.

Bates, of Armadale, yesterday pleaded guilty to theft and acting in a racially aggravated manner. He was fined £270.