A MAN has been jailed after he tried to walk out of a shop with more than £200 worth of candles - a month after he pretended to shoot passing cars with an umbrella.

Stephen Gillies McInnes, 44, of Dalry, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on three matters that had been deferred in order to gather social work reports.

The court heard how on October 4, McInnes had been walking to his home whilst periodically raising an umbrella and pretending to shot passing cars.

Several of the drivers contacted the police fearing he had a firearm.

Police found him in Main Street, where he had a golf umbrella under his arm. He placed it on the pavement before saying ‘no comment’.

At that time, he was detained under the Mental Health Act.

Then, on November 25 at Tesco in Irvine, McInnes tried to steal £235.20 worth of candles by placing them in a trolley and trying to walk out the store but he was stopped and there was full recovery.

The third charge was that he breached a bail condition that he wasn’t to enter the town of Irvine – but did so on December 3.

McInnes’ lawyer stated that he couldn’t add much to the reports available – and that in his view, he wasn’t a well man.

He added that his client has difficulty into accepting what happened and seems to get involved in bizarre behaviour.

Sheriff Watson said: “Given the low expectations of the social work department and my own mind about you co-operating, I have no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence. “ McInnes was sentenced to a total of seven months after he was admonished on the charge of pretending to have a firearm.

As he was led away, he gave a two fingered salute above his head with a smile on his face.