A killer who shot a police officer was freed from jail and within a weeks had stolen thousands from his girlfriend to fund a holiday to Blackpool.

Raymond McCourt claimed he had committed the crime because he was struggling to cope with freedom and wanted to return to the prison system.

McCourt, jailed for life for murdering a newsagent and shooting a policeman, has been jailed for ten months and recalled to prison on his life sentence.

Sheriff William Wood said: "I expect you might not see the light of day for quite some time."

Perth Sheriff Court was told that McCourt was jailed for life in 1993 but had been deemed suitable for release on licence earlier this year.

He had gone to live with his partner Agnes Hailes, but within a few weeks she went away for the weekend, and McCourt decided to help himself to her valuables.

He stole jewellery, cash, three watches, nine mobile phones, a video camera and a key from her home in Springbank Road, Alyth, Perthshire, between March 6 and 8.

McCourt, originally from the Glasgow area, took the items and pawned them for around £780 which he then blew on a week-long jaunt to Blackpool.

A nationwide search was launched for McCourt after he went missing and when he was arrested he told police that he was struggling to cope outside of prison.

He said he had taken the items and treated himself to a final blow-out before being sent back to prison for breaching the terms of his release on licence.

McCourt, no fixed abode, admitted stealing the items worth several thousand pounds, and Sheriff Wood imposed a ten month prison sentence.

He was convicted and jailed for life at the High Court in Glasgow in September 1993 for murder, attempted murder, assault and robbery, assault to severe injury and two firearms offences.

McCourt shot newsagent Khalid Mahmood in the face from close range, killing him. He then ran into James Kerr's bakery shop and demanded money.

Mr Kerr tackled McCourt with a rolling pin and Moira Rooney was credited with saving a police officer's life while being shot herself as he tried to flee the scene.

Both were later commended for their bravery by Strathclyde Police.

''I was in the back shop and, when I came through, he had the gun pointed at my chest,'' Mr Kerr said shortly after the incident.

''I told him there were police outside and when he turned away to look I hit him over the head with my rolling pin. He got up screaming that the gun was real but I hit him again and then he ran out.

''I didn't think about it. There was no way he was going to get anything out of my shop."

Police constable Brian Williams gave chase but the gunman turned and aimed the Magnum gun at his head. At that point, Mrs Rooney distracted McCourt.

''I shouted at him 'don't shoot' but he turned round and shot me in the legs and then shot PC Williams,'' said Mrs Rooney when she was honoured by the police in 1994.

The bullet pierced Mrs Rooney's legs and the part-time cleaner spent seven weeks in hospital recovering.

PC Williams said he thought Mrs Rooney and his watch saved his life. McCourt's second shot was aimed at his head and the bullet struck his watchstrap as he instinctively threw his hands up.

The bullet lodged in his hand but he continued to chase McCourt through the streets of Cambuslang for several hundred yards.