A TEENAGE shoplifter who went on a week-long spree of thefts that saw him make off with a charity collection pot and break into a Greenock takeaway has been jailed for almost a year.

Jason McLean took booze along with hundreds of pounds in cash in the targeted raids on a supermarket, a convenience store, and food premises last month.

The 19-year-old, who was already on five court bail orders at the time, was allowed back out on the streets in November after admitting to five offences - and cockily winked at his lawyer from the dock after being granted his liberty again.

However, the teenager's latest crimes have caught up with him after he was sentenced to 11 months imprisonment at Greenock Sheriff Court.

McLean, who appeared from custody having recently been given four months detention at Paisley Sheriff Court for culpable and reckless conduct, took a staff tips box from a shop on November 7.

He entered the Cowden's store on Lynedoch Street shortly after it opened in the early hours of the morning and was seen on CCTV cameras leaning over the counter to take the item - which contained an unknown amount of money - before 'exiting at speed'.

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The teen also stole a cash register from a Greenock town centre cafe before discarding it in the street with around £250 in cash missing.

The brazen thief pocketed more cash after breaking into the Oasis takeaway at Kilblain Street - in full view of security cameras - overnight between November 13 and 14.

Prosecutor Ashley Pollock told the court: "Two small-sized boulders were found within the premises.

"One hundred pounds in cash was stolen from the till, which was opened with the key left in the premises.

"CCTV allowed officers to identify him rummaging through the premises."

Later on November 14, security staff at Tesco in Port Glasgow reviewed CCTV footage from the previous day and observed McLean entering, removing two litre bottles of Smirnoff vodka and leaving via a fire exit. The alcohol was valued at £48.

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He also grabbed a poppy tin with £50 in it in another early morning raid at the same Cowden's store previously hit.

In further offences, McLean became hostile towards police after being arrested, shouting at officers: "Yous will regret this, I will smash yous."

He was also convicted of telling a residential care worker 'You're getting it' during a verbally abusive phone call in September 2022.

Solicitor Aidan Gallagher said McLean 'has spent the majority of his life in care-based settings due to his family's own involvement in substance abuse and offending behaviour'.

Mr Gallagher said: "He is vulnerable to exploitation.

"Family support and/or intervention has been negligible.

"He has not coped in the community.

"Drug misuse has led to addiction, likewise with alcohol.

"Those two taken together have led to desperate acts of theft, very clumsy acts."

Sheriff James Varney said the teen 'has not taken advantage of countless chances in the community', and told him: "I don't know what the future is going to hold for you if you continue offending in this way but in terms of the offences before me today I can see no other alternative than imposing a period of custody."

McLean was jailed for a total of 11 months upon the expiry of his current sentence at the end of January.