A thief who stole equestrian items and tools worth more than £2,000 from a Hawick farm avoided custody with an alternative community payback order (CPO).
Kyle Lawrie was also told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, with a warning that any lapse could cost him his liberty.
Lawrie, 24, of Church Lane, Hawick, admitted breaking into a stable tackroom and three stables at Wellogate Farm, Wellogate Brae, on March 6, and stealing equestrian and first aid items totalling £40.
He also pleaded guilty to forcing open a storage container and stealing tools and building material worth £2,470.
Lawrie was found at the scene and the property recovered. The poultry worker was said to have acted out of character after taking diazepam.
Lawrie’s lawyer told Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Friday: “His grandmother was seriously ill, and died the day after, and he decided to take Diazepam to help him cope. He acted out of character, is very remorseful and will not consider taking anything again.”
Sheriff Derrick McIntyre told Lawrie the offences were too serious to be dealt with by fines. After imposing a CPO, he also warned the accused: “If you don’t do the work, you can expect a custodial sentence.”