A CALLOUS thief who pocketed a pensioner's purse claimed it was "theft by finding".

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Alexander Hogg admitted stealing a wallet containing money and bank cards from Rutherglen Post Office on February 28 this year.

The fiscal depute told the court that it was around 9.30am when the 69-year-old victim went to the local shop to withdraw cash from her account.

Later realising she had left her purse on the counter, she returned to the Post Office but was told it wasn't there and no one had handed it in.

The CCTV was checked and the 43-year-old accused was spotted picking it up and putting it in his jacket.

The purse was said to contain around £60.

In defence, Hogg was said to have described the opportunistic crime as "theft by finding".

The accused, of Main Street, Rutherglen, was sentenced to a Restriction of Liberty Order in which he will have to remain indoors between the hours of 7pm and 7am for three months.