A MAN stole his partner's laptop in a pink Nike bag and tried to claim that it wasn't a permanent theft.

Peter Burns pleaded guilty to stealing the laptop from his partner's house in Alexandria on March 4 this year.

When he appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court this week, fiscal depute Tiffany Chisholm said he failed to give it back in time before police arrived.

Cops heard him say "your naw getting it back" and "you will come and get it".

The Crown estimated that the laptop was valued to be around £200.

The 38-year-old also admitted to breaking his bail conditions, which banned him from seeing his partner, on three separate occasions.

On March 11 this year the woman was in her home and left the property a short time later. She started walking down the street when she saw Burns.

The second breach happened a few days later at around 4.20am on March 15 when she was woken up by loud banging and shouting come from the front of the house.

She saw Burns standing outside her home. He asked to be let inside but when she refused he said "You're a f***ing rat" and left.

And on April 1, police were instructed to attend an ongoing incident at around 1am. When they arrived at the property they saw that Burns was in her home.

He was arrested and taken to Clydebank police station.

Stephen Maguire, defending, said: "They have known each other for a long time.

"In terms of the laptop, he told police stories of what had happened during the night. He returned to the locus at 8.15am and police were there. He had the laptop in his possession.

"He took it and he shouldn't have done. It was never intended as a permanent theft. He accepted he stole it but was going to return it the second he walked through the door.

"The contact continued until they weren't getting on. He is a man of a very limited record and has taken the time to read through the lengthy report. He is keen for the matters to be dealt with."

Sheriff Seith Ireland said: "I don't make in any way light of these matters where it is domestic abuse. As I say where people do things during a relationship and following that it is treated more seriously because of the impact it has on the relationship and also the parties to that relationship.

"I have regarded that and I think the best way forward is that you need guidance for your future behaviour."

The sheriff placed him on a community payback order for 12 months under social work supervision.

A non-harassment order was imposed to prevent Burns from contacting his former partner or attending her home in Alexandria.