A 'CRUEL' thief who was given a place to stay for the night by an ex-girlfriend because he'd no money for electricity stole her tablet computer and sold it.

George Schrickel — who split from the woman 18 months ago — had gifted her the item as a birthday present in 2016, but vanished with it as she slept.

Shameless Schrickel, 39, took the tablet to Greenock's Cash Generator buy-and-sell store and got £40 for it.

But the petty crook ultimately lost on the deal because he's been hit with a fine for £180.

Prosecutor Lindy Scaife told Greenock Sheriff Court: "The accused asked to stay the night because he had no electricity and no money to top up his meter.

"He had given the tablet computer as a birthday present two years previously.

"In the morning, the accused and the tablet were both gone."

Schrickel, of Tasker Street, committed the theft at an address on Skye Street on July 30.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said: "He is 39 and unemployed.

"He simply had no money to fund electricity at his own home.

"The theft was opportunistic in nature, however, cruel is another way to describe it.

"The woman was good enough to allow access to her home and he took advantage of it.

"He accepts that is was cruel, and a mistake on his part."

In fining Schrickel, Sheriff Daniel Kelly told him: "This was a pretty heartless way to repay a kindness given to you."