A thief stole three diggers worth almost £60,000 then spent the proceeds on alcohol and gambling.

James Stewart hired the JCB machines from stores in Cupar and St Andrews, Fife, in January 2015 but failed to return them and fobbed off the owners off with excuses before ignoring their calls.

Police were called in and were able to track one of the diggers to a travellers' site in Aberdeenshire and another to an industrial estate in Kirkcaldy. The third, valued at £21,000, has never been found.

Stewart now faces a jail term after admitting two charges of theft at Dundee Sheriff Court.

His lawyer told the court the theft had been a "foolish plan to make money" and Stewart had spent the money on alcohol and gambling.

Stewart, 23, of Adamson Avenue, Kirkcaldy, pleaded guilty on indictment to two charges of theft.

Sheriff Tom Hughes deferred sentence until April for social work background reports.