A COUNTY thief who broke into a home and several cars in Ormiston has been placed on a community order.

Mark Robertson embarked on a crime spree in April this year when he entered the house at the village’s Hillview Road and made off with bottles of wine and a set of keys.

Robertson, c/o HMP Edinburgh, then broke into three vehicles as they were parked at Linlithgow Terrace, Meadowbank Crescent and Meadowbank Road.

Robertson, 39, stole an array of low value goods from the cars including an air freshener, a jacket, sunglasses, a plectrum and a camera.

He also managed to take more expensive goods such as a tool box, two Bluetooth speakers and aftershave.

Robertson, originally from Tranent, denied the offences but was found guilty following a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month.

He returned to the dock from custody last week where Sheriff Nigel Ross spared him a jail term and instead handed out a community-based order.

Robertson will have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community as an alternative to custody.

He has also been placed on a supervision order for the next 30 months in a bid to curb his offending.