A Tesco employee who emailed himself copies of customer details from the supermarket giant's database was unhappy with his job, a court heard.

Thomas Wengierow admitted a charge under the Data Protection Act at Dundee Sheriff Court committed when he worked at the Tesco Customer Services call centre in Baird Avenue in the city.

A trial at the city's sheriff court heard he "knowingly or recklessly obtained or disclosed" personal data from a Tesco database at the centre.

The court was told Wengierow, who had returned to Scotland from his native Lithuania for the hearing, copied data about customers' personal details into an email and send it to himself.

Wengierow, 47, of Pitalpin Court, Dundee, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Data Protection Act on summary complaint.

Solicitor David Duncan, defending, said: "It is an unusual offence but nonetheless serious.

"It seems to have come at a time when he was losing his grip on his life. He was unfulfilled and unhappy in his employment and went on this strange adventure as a result.

"He is now unemployed and he's going to have to try and get back on track."

Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC imposed a £230 fine on Wengierow and told him: "You can't use information in the way that you did."