A thief was caught when footprints in the snow led straight from the crime scene to his front door.

John Honeyman's victim simply followed his trail then called the police to tell them his address. The 20-year-old housebreaker was arrested at his house later that day.

At Livingston Sheriff Court on Friday, prosecutor John Barclay said the victim saw her garden gate was lying open and a padlock on her garden shed was broken.

When she looked inside she noticed three mini motorbikes were missing.

Mr Barclay said: "Because of the snow which had fallen overnight she was able to follow footprints all the way to the accused's house. She didn't enter but contacted the police."

Honeyman, from Livingston, West Lothian, was fined £300 for the crime on Friday.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to breaking into a garden shed in Gardners Lane, Bathgate, on December 6 last year and stealing the motorbikes.

Glenn Fraser, defending, said Honeyman had originally gone to the house to get back a mini motorbike stolen from him.

He said: "Unfortunately he didn't just take his own one, he took three. He now realises he should have dealt with it another way. He should have called the police."

Mr. Fraser admitted Honeyman had a criminal record but claimed his offending had now "calmed down".

Sheriff David Hall said: "It's quite clear from the narrative that this was a somewhat botched attempt."