A serial bird thief has been jailed after stealing 24 racing pigeons from a pensioner's garden.

Dean Wells, of Elgin, Moray, sneaked into George Howie's garden and took the award-winning birds on April 27 last year.

Police turned up at the thief's home to find him sitting in his bedroom surrounded by pigeons.

They were returned to Mr Howie, 72, and Wells admitted the theft crime at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in October last year.

Sentence was deferred for six months for good behaviour and he returned to the court on Wednesday.

Sheriff Margaret Hodge heard he was already serving a sentence for another offence after being jailed for seven months in May.

Lawyer Les Green told the court: "My client realises there's no alternative here."

Sheriff Hodge jailed 23-year-old Wells, who has a history of stealing birds, for 22 days.

In December 2014, he took 19 pigeons worth £2200 from coops belonging to two Elgin brothers. He was sent to jail for six months after admitting those thefts at Elgin Sheriff Court.

Wells was also convicted of theft after stashing three of his uncle's budgies in his pockets five years ago.