A PRESTONPANS thief has been jailed after he admitted breaking into a pensioner’s home over New Year.

David Ritchie, of Inchview North, entered the Lasswade home of the 74-year-old woman, some time between December 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020, and made off with jewellery and electronic items.

The 46-year-old also admitted further offences, including breaking into a second home at Mayburn Avenue, Loanhead, and to taking a set of car keys with which he then attempted to steal a vehicle parked outside the home.

He also stole a watch and a quantity of alcohol during that break-in on April 12 last year.

Ritchie pleaded guilty to the offences when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last December and was remanded in custody.

He was back in the dock for sentencing this month, where Sheriff Alistair Noble sentenced him to a nine-month jail sentence for the break-in to the 74-year-old woman’s home last Hogmanay.

He was also given a 12-month sentence for the Loanhead incident and both custodial terms will be served consecutively.

A previous not guilty plea to attempting to force open a door with the intent to steal at an address in Loanhead on December 31 last year was accepted by the Crown.