Drunken thief shops himself

A DRUNKEN bungling thief dropped himself in it when he phoned police to tell them his pal had taken off with items the two of them had stolen.

Florent Chawki, 22, stole two credit cards and a bank card from a suitcase at a hostel where he had been staying over Hogmanay.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Fiscal depute Trevor Smith said:

"The accused himself called the police to report a theft and when police spoke to him it became clear that he matched the description they had been given from earlier matters by the complainers."

Company director Chawki admitted forcing open a suitcase and stealing three bank cards at City Centre Hostel, West Register Street, on 3 January this year.

He also admitted fraudulently obtaining 100 on credit and making a false representation to police the following day. The Londoner was fined 300 and ordered to pay 150 compensation.