A MAN dodged jail after being caught stealing £290 of meat from a Marks and Spencers store.

Joseph McGovern targeted the Bishopbriggs branch, lifting 30 packets of food on January 25, 2017 and bolting.

The 37-year-old's brief told Glasgow Sheriff Court he had committed other crimes around the same time and was sentenced in March to 12 months in prison.

The meat theft, however, was kept as a separate charge.

His lawyer said: "Despite his significant record, this is the first time in a substantial period that he does not have any matters outstanding.

"He is on benefits as he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

"There is a drug issue and that is something that has been addressed by him off his own back.

"It is possible to say he's at that stage in his life where he is attempting to make changes.

"Perhaps a supervision order would remind him he is under the watchful eye of the court."

Sheriff William Totten told McGovern, from Springburn, he hopes he is "genuinely motivated to make a go of things".

The sheriff slapped him with a Community Payback Order with supervision for 18 months.

McGovern will also wear a tag for three months keeping him at home between the hours of 7pm and 7am.