A romantic thief who stole flowers to apologise to his girlfriend for being locked up for a night was yesterday jailed for 40 months.

Neil McMillan stole them to give to Michelle Robertson after being arrested and spending a night in custody. He took the £6.99 bunch on his way home from court - and was rearrested.

Yesterday, that night behind bars became more than three years when, as well as admitting taking the flowers, McMillan admitted other offences including robbing a Chinese takeaway delivery driver.

As he was led from court he turned to Miss Robertson and said: "Michelle, I love you. Don't worry, I'll be out by the end of the year."

He admitted stealing the flowers from the Co-op store in Rannoch Road in Perth on July 30 last year while he was subject to bail that had been granted the day before.

Solicitor Billy Somerville, defending, said: "He had enough money to pay for the flowers, so whether he intended to pay for them but changed his mind I don't know."

MacMillan, of Newhouse Road, Perth, also admitted vandalising a house in Logie Crescent on July 28 by smashing a pane of glass. He further admitted breaching the peace in Newhouse Road, Perth, on July 14.

He also admitted stealing £45 from an address in Rannoch Road, Perth, on August 12. Finally, he admitted assaulting Andrew Hardie and robbing him of £10 in the same street on October 9.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told McMillan: "You rightly accept that custody is the only option in dealing with these matters."