A TRANENT thief who broke into the changing rooms of local rugby team Ross High RFC as the players were training on a nearby pitch has been sentenced.

David Wright, of the town’s Baxter’s Gate, sneaked into the changing area at the club’s Blawearie Road base and stole three mobile phones, a wallet and a bank card from players’ clothing.

The incident took place on the evening of Tuesday, January 24, but the thief was quickly picked up by police and appeared in court two days later.

He pleaded guilty to the rugby theft charge, while a not guilty plea to a second charge of stealing two bottles of perfume from Tesco, Dalkeith, was accepted by the Crown.

Wright, 30, returned to Edinburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday where he was handed an 18-month drug treatment and testing order by Sheriff Wendy Sheehan.

A review date of March 16 was set to monitor his progress.