A “CAREER shoplifter” who stole a woman’s mobile phone from a pet shop has been placed on a supervision order.

David Wright was also caught stealing meat from Aldi store in Musselburgh in April last year.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that the 34-year-old grabbed the £500 iPhone belonging to Esther Watters at Tranent Pet Supplies on April 20 last year.

Wright, of Baxter’s Gate, Tranent, was at the Musselburgh supermarket nine days later and took the meat, worth £38, without paying for it.

The court was told that the mobile phone and the meat had not been recovered.

Wright had admitted the two offences at an earlier court hearing and he was back in the dock last Wednesday for sentencing.

Lawyer Stephen Mannifield said that Wright was “now clean of illicit drugs” and was engaging with East Lothian Council services to help him beat his addictions.

Sheriff Nigel Ross ordered Wright to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community and placed him on a supervision order for the next 20 months.

The sheriff added: “You are a career shoplifter and this has to end.”

Wright admitted stealing an iPhone from Tranent Pet Supplies on April 20 last year. He also pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of meat from Aldi, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, on April 29 last year.