A DRUG addict thief ran off after she was caught rifling through cupboards in a doctor's office.

Rhonda McDonald targeted the empty room at Greenock's Roxburgh Medical Practice shortly after opening time.

The 38-year-old stole 'injectable' medication and then fled after a nurse walked in on her.

McDonald pleaded guilty to the offence after appearing from police custody at Greenock Sheriff Court.

Prosecutor David Glancy said: "The accused interrupted a consultation of sorts in a nurse's room and claimed to be looking for her mother.

"She was redirected to the reception area, however, when the nurse finished what she was doing she went to the reception area to look for the accused, who was not there.

"The nurse became concerned and checked all the rooms along the corridor of the practice.

"In the doctor's room she observed the accused going through a number of cupboards."

Fiscal depute Mr Glancy added: "Within the cupboards were items of equipment and also pouches of injectable drugs.

"The doctor enquired as to what she was doing.

"The accused stated, 'Please don't get me into trouble'.

"She was candid and said that she was in the room looking for drugs.

"She made off across the car park outside."

McDonald, of Auchmead Road, struck at around 9am on June 8.

She also pleaded guilty to shoplifting raids for clothes, perfume, jewellery and food carried out at Tesco in Greenock on November 27 and December 27.

Staff at the surgery positively identified her from a police emulator board of pictures.

Defence lawyer David Tod told Sheriff Thomas Ward: "Your Lordship may divine that there is a drug problem here.

"As she sits in the dock today that problem is getting better, and she would like that procedure to be formalised.

"If your Lordship is not with me on that, she has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and has not sought to waste anyone's time."

Sheriff Ward sentenced McDonald to eight months imprisonment.