AN ex-employee walked into Glasgow Airport armed with secateurs and scissors to steal luggage, a court heard.

AN ex-employee walked into Glasgow Airport armed with secateurs and scissors to steal luggage, a court heard.

But Peter Reilly was caught when he picked up a bag from the domestic arrivals carousel and tried to walk away.

At Paisley Sheriff Court, he was jailed for four months after he admitted the theft.

The court was told that although there were signs warning the public not to enter the area, there was no physical barrier.

Reilly, 31, was watched as he entered the area where domestic passengers retrieve their luggage at 8.30pm on August 9.

Police on duty in the area watched as he strolled forward, took a bag from the carousel and went to leave.

He was caught and the bag's rightful owner, a passenger who had flown in from Cardiff, identified it as his property.

The court was told a search of another bag carried by Reilly, of Cochrane Square, Linwood, revealed he had secateurs and scissors.

Defence agent Richard Allan said his client had been going through a difficult time but since then had taken steps to sort his life out, had trained and successfully obtained a forklift truck operator's licence with a view to finding employment.

Asked by Sheriff David Pender if Reilly had offered any explanation for the theft, Mr Allan said: "He accepts it was a moment of madness. He had previously been employed at the airport."

The sheriff said the secateurs and scissors had to be taken as an indication the offence was premeditated.

Sentencing Reilly, Sheriff Pender said: "I note you have four previous convictions for dishonesty. This is a very serious offence and people like you have to be discouraged from acting in this way."