A thief has been jailed after he was spotted carrying a bag of sex toys after a raid on a woman's flat.

Charles Jamieson had one of the items sitting out in full view when police officers turned up at his home.

When they asked what the item was, Jamieson joked: "Surely you know what that is, officer?"

Fiscal depute Vicki Bell told Dundee Sheriff Court the serial offender was caught in the act by the victim's neighbour.

Sheriff Alastair Brown asked the prosecutor: "When you describe adult toys are you talking about Scrabble or something more intimate?"

Miss Bell replied: "Something rather more intimate."

The sheriff jailed Jamieson for 15 months and told him he had "violated" the victim's home.

Describing the offence, Miss Bell added: "The occupier secured the property on December 3 and went to stay with her partner for a period of time. On December 5, a neighbour noticed the door was ajar.

"Later that day he saw the accused exiting the property carrying a TV wrapped in a duvet. He was challenged and claimed to be helping a friend move.

"The neighbour was not satisfied with this explanation and called police. When they arrived there was no trace of the accused.

"The complainer was contacted and confirmed items had been taken."

She added: "On December 8, the accused had been seen in possession of a bag of adult toys. Police attended his home as a result and whilst in the living room there they could see an adult toy. A further quantity was found under a table."

As well as the sex toys, Jamieson stole a TV, plectrum, keys and a plastic knife.

Jamieson, 35, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of theft committed in the Hilltown, Dundee, on December 12 last year.

Paul Parker Smith, defending, said: "He knew at the outset this venture was extremely dodgy. When the police went in these sex toys were sitting in full view, strewn throughout his living room. They seemed to have had a bit of a joke about it."

Sheriff Alastair Brown jailed Jamieson for 15 months.

He said: "When you go in to somebody's home you create in them feelings of violation and insecurity.

"And in this case it was made worse by the intimate nature of some of the items you took to your home.

"You and anyone else who is inclined to violate somebody's home must understand that this court will deal with that type of offence seriously."