A volunteer at a food bank project near Clydebank says she still wants to help the man who recently stole money from the charity.

Joanne McPhee was helping get the unknown man some more milk for his tea at the Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels (OKFP) facility when he took off with the donations jar when her back was turned.

The man had already been given two bags full of food and toiletries alongside the offer of some home baking when he stole the money, around £18.

And despite this, Ms McPhee wants to sit down with the man and find out what problems he has going on in his life that have forced him to steal from a group trying to help people.

She said: “If he needs help, he can approach one of us. And if it is possible for us to help him or point him in a direction where he can get help, then we will assist him.

“But there is no need to take without asking.

“The help that we try and give people is second to none and there is nobody we would turn our back on.”

Ms McPhee, 72, explained she even expects the opportunistic male to return to the foodbank at some point and says she isn’t that bothered about seeing him again.

She added: “I think the next time we see him we’ll just make sure he is nowhere where people can’t keep an eye on him.”

OKFP founder Maureen Cummings told the Post that when she sees the man again, she will be having a quiet word in his ear and tell him the café part of the hub is now off-limits to him.

But she stopped short of calling the police on the man, instead believing there must be something going on in his life that has made him do this.

Ms Cummings said: “I suppose it’s a crime, it’s a theft.

“But I feel like his life must not be great to do this. Why make it any worse?”

And speaking about Ms McPhee’s experience, Ms Cummings explained she blames herself.

“She’s just beating herself up,” Ms Cummings added.

“It could have happened to any of us and in a way, I’m glad she was slow on her feet because maybe there could have been an altercation with the man if one of the younger ones had turned around quickly and caught him in the act.

“Joanne is asking herself maybe if she had put the right milk in the man’s tea in the first place, which is heartbreaking.”

The group announced the incident on a Facebook post with people outraged and saddened by the theft.

One person commented: "It's awful and very sad. Some people can't resist the compulsion to steal, unfortunately. Asking would have been way better."

Another added: "I think someone would need to be pretty desperate to do this. Don't judge with only part of the story. Maybe he needed electricity or medication...who knows but I hope he is OK and welcomed back if he is in need."

And a third said: "That’s sad! Don’t bite the hand that feeds u as the saying goes! Great wee friendly place you got there as well. Was no need for that at all!"