TWO heroin addicts travelled from Dumfries to Galashiels on a shoplifting expedition, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Paul Hogg and Jacqueline Hunter filled up a trolley in Asda with £365.93 worth of items and left the store without paying.

But staff had noted their activities and quickly alerted police who caught up with the couple as they headed out of Galashiels on Abbotsford Road.

Forty nine year old Hogg was jailed for four months while his partner Hunter, who is 52, was fined £300.

They both pleaded guilty to stealing goods from Asda on April 14.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said both accused had extensive records, which involved shoplifting.

He said: "The offence happened at 10 past 10 in the evening. They had travelled from Dumfries and were seen coming into the store with an empty trolley .

"They were caught on CCTV and went out of sight for a while. They were seen leaving the store with a full trolley and made no attempt to pay for any of this.

"They were followed by a member of staff and police, who were alerted, caught up with the vehicle just outside Galashiels on the A6091."

Mr Fraser said the stolen items included food, alcohol, cleaning products and gaming controllers and he added that the pair had been on a shoplifting expedition.

Hogg's lawyer said his client co-operated with the police when apprehended and due to his lengthy record had no illusions about what the outcome of the court proceedings would be.

He explained Hogg, of Dalswinton Avenue, Dumfries, had been a heroin addict for 20 years.

Hogg claimed he had been visiting Galashiels to pick up a car part but Sheriff Peter Paterson doubted that given the time of the evening the offence was committed.

Hunter, of Barkerland Avenue, Dumfries, was described as Hogg's long term partner and they had three children together but lived apart.

She was also said to have a heroin addiction but the lawyer claimed it was Hogg who was the prime mover in committing the offence although it was accepted she was there when the stolen items were loaded into the car.

Sheriff Paterson said: "Given your records this was clearly not spontaneous but was a deliberate act in travelling for shoplifting."