A CAREER criminal with a list of convictions dating back to 1998 has been sentenced to another prison term for going on a spending spree with a stolen bank card.

Paul McIlroy - who was last jailed in November 2020 after admitting to stealing his 82-year-old gran’s bank card and taking £370 from her account - will now spend more time behind bars.

The 38-year-old, from Kilpatrick Court in Bourtreehill, was found to have entered an insecure vehicle in nearby Bencleuch Place on October 8 this year and stole several items from within.

He took a computer tablet, a wallet, a Nationwide bank card, a driving licence, a fuel card, a Kilmarnock Football Club season ticket, a Tesco card, an identification badge and £5 in cash.

Court papers stated that on the same day, at Ravenspark filling station on Kilwinning Road, he used the stolen bank card at an automated checkout to purchase cigarettes worth £57.12.

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McIlroy then went on to buy more cigarettes from the Cardow Crescent Spar store in the Lawthorn area of Irvine, McColls in High Street, Semi-Chem in High Street, and Tesco in Main Street, Kilwinning.

He also bought cigarettes and alcohol from KK Stores in Kilwinning's Main Street.

The fraudulent spending spree totalled more than £134.

McIlroy was also found outside a property in Fintry Place, Kilwinning where it was believed he intended to commit theft.

He also pleaded guilty to attempting to open the doors of two vehicles in Gigha Wynd, Irvine on October 21 with intent to steal.

According to court documents, McIlroy uses a number of aliases and has previous convictions dating back to 1998.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court earlier this month he was jailed for a total of eight months.