By Neil Trainis

A man who broke into a pharmacy in the Scottish town of Ayr and stole medication but was caught after leaving a trail of his own blood as well as his mobile phone at the scene of the crime has been jailed for 17 months.

Steven Curry, 40, was apprehended after police looked at CCTV footage of him stealing £272.52 worth of diazepam and dihydrocodeine from Ogg's Pharmacy in Newmarket Street, according to the Ayr Advertiser.

Ayr Sheriff Court heard he cut his hand as tried to break into the pharmacy in the early hours of the morning on January 9 and left a trail of blood on the floor and dropped his phone. The court also heard police officers later went to Curry’s address having viewed the CCTV footage and forced their way inside having got no response.

Having found him inside, they arrested him, handcuffed him and tried to get him into the police van but, according to the prosecutor, he “became volatile and refused to comply” and “repeatedly attempted to bite a police constable.” Curry received treatment at Crosshouse Hospital before being taken to Kilmarnock police office.

Curry’s defence told the court “it was not a carefully planned exercise but an act of desperation.” The court heard Curry, who was jailed having pleaded guilty to two charges, had long-time addiction problems.

His 17-month sentence was reduced from 24 months because of his guilty plea but he was given an additional six months for the assault on the officer. His sentence was backdated until January 9 when he was originally remanded in custody.