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

James Stewart hired the JCB machines from shops in Cupar and St Andrews last year and handed over his own name and address details to take away the diggers.

He then sold them on and spent the money on alcohol and funding his gambling habit.

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 digger, valued at £21,000, has never been found after the stunt which was branded a "foolish plan to make money" by his lawyer.

Stewart was sentenced to a year in prison at Dundee Sheriff Court, meaning he will miss the birth of his child, which is due later this month.

Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told the court: "On January 19, 2015, the accused attended at FTM Plant Hire in Cupar and rented a JCB digger and dumper for a week at a cost of £250.

"Upon completion of the hired week the items of machinery were not returned."

Eventually staff visited Stewart's home address, only to discover he had moved.

Ms Robertson said: "On January 26, 2015, the accused attended at Gardens, Mowers and Tools Ltd in St Andrews and rented a mini digger for a period of one week at a cost of £280.

"He returned on January 29, 2015, and rented a further JCB digger, six buckets, a trailer and a ratchet strap for a period of one week at a cost of £250.

"At the end of the period, the accused failed to return the machinery and the police were contacted."

The total value of the stolen items was £59,000, and £21,430 of that was never recovered.

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

Defence solicitor David Bell said: "He had a significant gambling addiction but has managed to put that behind him, primarily thanks to an ultimatum put to him by his partner.

Sheriff Tom Hughes jailed Stewart for a year and said: "This was a deliberate attempt on more than one occasion to become involved in theft and then to go out and sell these items on.

"The recovery of two of them in this case was good fortune rather than anything else."