A 42-YEAR-OLD man who committed a series of offences in the Borders over the space of a few days has been jailed for more than two years at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Kris Cardwell pleaded guilty to breaking into the premises of construction company James Swinton & Co in Noble Place, Hawick, with intent to steal while on bail on September 30.

He also broke into a house in nearby Glebe Mill Street with intent to steal and was confronted by the female occupier who managed to get him out of the property.

Later that day he stole a number of bottles of alcohol from Morrisons in Mart Street, Hawick,.

On October 2 he returned to Morrisons where he was recognised by a staff member and during a struggle punched him in the face.

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Cardwell then staged a "dirty protest" in the cell complex at Hawick Police Station by smearing faeces over the walls threatening the health of police staff and admitting a charge of culpable and reckless conduct.

The court was told that Cardwell had moved to the Borders from Perth and had been staying with his mother in Jedburgh.

He was carrying out a Community Pay Back order in the Perth area where he had the support of a drug worker but he started using Zanox and described himself as homeless when he was committing the offences.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said there had been time and effort with the break-ins including to cover up the CCTV by climbing a ladder while it would have been "distressing" for the female home owner to find Cardwell in her home late at night.

The sheriff added the assault on the shop worker was "unprovoked" and said the "dirty protest" was "distasteful".

He imposed jail sentences totalling 26 months back-dated to October 4.