A PRESTONPANS man who found an expensive ring at an Edinburgh house has been fined after he admitted stealing the item.

Grant Brannan, of Drummond Drive, found the piece of jewellery worth – about £8,000 – at an address at the Capital’s Winton Terrace.

Brannan failed to attempt to find the owner of the ring and decided to keep it.

But following police enquiries into the ring’s disappearance, Brannan was traced and charged after it was found he had attempted to steal the ring.

The 28-year-old appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last Tuesday for sentencing after he had previously admitted to stealing the ring in January.

His solicitor Mary Moultrie said that the case had had a “dramatic impact” on her client and, though he was “extremely anxious” at his court appearance, he had “taken full responsibility for the offence”.

Ms Moultrie added that Brannan had experienced “financial difficulties” at the time of the theft.

Sheriff Weir admitted the theft had been “an unusual offence” and decided to fine the gas and plumbing engineer a total of £500.

Brannan admitted finding a ring worth £8,000 without attempting to find the true owner and stealing it on January 7 this year.