Cops found Paul Ness, 42, sitting pie-faced in the staff kitchen of the British Heart Foundation store in Leith at the end of January.

He had filled three shopping bags with charity shop loot, but made the grave error of stopping for a mince pie snack before getting away.

He was due to be sentenced yesterday, but proceedings were deferred to next month after he admitted additional theft charges last week.

Ness had previously been convicted of culpable homicide in 1996.