A THIEF who broke into a parked car and stole a bag containing baby clothes has been fined and ordered to pay compensation at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Fifty-six-year-old Patrick Loyden was due to stand trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court last week on a number of charges.

But his not guilty pleas to charges of theft by housebreaking and causing malicious mischief were accepted by the Crown.

The case was transferred to Selkirk on Thursday when Loyden pleaded guilty to forcing open the locked car and stealing a bag and its contents in O'Connell Street, Hawick, on October 15, 2022.

He also admitted breaching a bail condition by not answering the door to police at a house in Galalaw Road, Hawick, when he was on a night-time home curfew.

Prosecutor India McLean said the theft took place at 3pm when CCTV captured Loyden smashing a window of the vehicle and stealing the bag which contained £250 worth of baby clothes.

Defence lawyer Stephanie Clinkscale said her client had returned the bag and most of its contents to the car owner with only £50 worth missing.

She pointed out that Loyden had been on curfew for the past year and eight months in relation to the case.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said he would be entitled to impose a custodial sentence given Loyden's record. But he took into account that Loyden's liberty had been restricted for well over a year.

Instead he fined Loyden of Galalaw Road, Hawick, £300 with a £20 victim surcharge.

He also ordered him to pay £150 compensation to the car owner.