A SHOPLIFTER who stole superhero action figures from a store in the centre of Ayr has waved a new mobile phone in court in a bid to assure a judge he won’t miss any more appointments with social workers.

Kevin Morrison appeared in the dock last week to answer for his breach of a court’s order to engage with a social worker to enable a background report to be prepared.

The 32-year-old had his sentence deferred for a report after he pleaded guilty to charges of shoplifting and threatening or abusive behaviour.

Morrison’s theft spree began when he stole a set of headphones from WH Smith in the High Street on November 16.

The next day he returned to WH Smith to steal more items, and went on to nick food from the Lidl store in the town’s Allison Street.

And on November 27 he was back stealing on the High Street, this time pinching a quantity of Marvel action figures from HMV.

Morrison, of Frew Terrace, Irvine, also admitted stealing food from Aldi in his home town on November 23 and from Marks and Spencer at the Riverway Retail Park, also in Irvine, on December 6.

In addition he pleaded guilty to shouting and swearing at a security guard at Irvine’s Job Centre on November 24 and making derogatory remarks and violent threats to the same guard.

Court papers say Morrison committed the offences after being granted bail at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on March 22, 2021.

When he returned to the same court on Thursday, January 13, defence solicitor Peter Murray explained his client was “between phones” at the time – as Morrison waved a new white-coloured device at Sheriff Fraser while sat in the dock.

Bail was continued and Morrison will return to court for sentencing next month.