A PROLIFIC county thief who attacked a nurse and was caught stealing from two stores within the town has been jailed.

Alexander Stewart assaulted staff nurse Paul Gildea at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh after he had been taken there for treatment in March.

Stewart punched the staff nurse on the body and struggled violently with him at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency department last month.

Stewart, of Well Wynd, Tranent, also shouted, swore and threw hospital equipment during the same incident.

Stewart was granted bail on that offence but went on to take goods from a Co-op store on Mid Road, Prestonpans, the following month.

The 46-year-old also admitted to stealing a quantity of meat from the Northfield Co-op on July 18 last year.

The court was told that the amount of goods taken that day was £39.50 and there had been no recovery.

Unexpired portion

Stewart had previously admitted all the offences when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and he was back in the dock for sentencing last Wednesday.

Sheriff Matthew Auchincloss was told that Stewart had an unexpired portion of 182 days relating to a previous custodial sentence. He told the offender he was going back to prison to serve out the remainder of that sentence.

The sheriff also imposed a further six-month jail sentence for the assault on the nurse which will run consecutively to the unexpired sentence.

Stewart was also given an additional 11-week prison term, again to run consecutively, for stealing meat from the Mid Road Co-op in April.

Stewart pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of meat from the Co-op, Northfield, Prestonpans, on July 18 last year.

He also admitted to assaulting a nurse and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh on March 1. He also admitted stealing a quantity of meat from the Co-op on Mid Road on April 19.