A MUSSELBURGH man is to be sentenced later this month after admitting breaking into two county businesses and making off with cash takings.

Niall O’Brien, of Whitehill Street, broke into a beauty salon and a fish and chip shop and made off with hundreds of pounds in cash and goods, as well as causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to the two businesses.

O’Brien stole cash and a quantity of papers from the Top to Toe salon on Newbigging, and cash, cigarettes and papers from Jaz’s Fish Bar on the town’s High Street.

The 25-year-old appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to two charges and his pleas of not guilty to three further charges, including resetting a car and stealing registration plates, were accepted by the Crown.

Fiscal depute Gerard Drugan told the court that staff at the Top to Toe beauty salon on the town’s Newbigging locked the premises at about 12.30pm.

Mr Drugan said: “Around half past midnight, two males were seen breaking into the store and taking property from the store away in a car.

“The cash box was found on the street near to the store itself.”

Mr Drugan added that the damage to shop premises during the break-in was £270 to replace the broken glass and a further £150 to replace the damaged flooring.

Mr Drugan also gave details of the second break-in at Jaz’s Fish Bar on Musselburgh High Street.

The fiscal said: “At about 11.45pm, officers were called after a member of the public saw one of the windows smashed [at Jaz’s Fish Bar].

“The officers saw the till drawer lying open and thereafter the occupier arrived and he listed the items that had been stolen.”

The court heard that £110 of cash had been stolen, while the damage caused to gain entry to the takeaway ran to about £1,500.

Sheriff Frank Crowe deferred sentence on O’Brien to June 21 for the preparation of social work reports and a restriction of liberty assessment.

O’Brien admitted breaking into the Top to Toe premises and stealing a cash bow with £241.51 inside and a quantity of papers on March 26 last year. He also pleaded guilty to breaking into Jaz’s Fish Bar and stealing £110 in cash, cigarettes and papers on the same date.