A MAN who embezzled £2,000 from an Ardrossan shop has been ordered to do unpaid work.

Alexander Hunt, 48, admitted stealing the money from the till of the Key Store in Ashgrove Road, where he worked as an employee, between January 1 and May 29, 2014.

He previously pled guilty to the offence at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and returned to court last week following the production of social work reports.

The court heard from Hunt’s defence solicitor, Ms McDonald, who revealed that Hunt had fallen into financial difficulties after his partner of 25 years lost her job in 2013.

Despite his employment, Hunt’s debts were becoming “too much” and decided to take money from the till.

Ms McDonald said the theft was “out of character” for the first offender who unsurprisingly lost his job as a result.

Hunt, of West Princes Street, Rothesay, made no attempts to re-pay the money.

When imposing a community-based sentence, presiding Sheriff Shirley Foran said: “It’s a serious offence involving a substantial amount of money but I feel I can avoid imposing a prison sentence.” Hunt was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.