A 21-YEAR-OLD man who took part in a raid on a garage in Galashiels when a car and a motorcycle were stolen has avoided a jail sentence at Selkirk Sheriff Court.
Brendan Watson of Hawthornvale, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to a theft by housebreaking charge at the business premises in Bristol Terrace on November 23, 2015.
Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, said at 5am the following day police were alerted to suspicious activity at Watson's aunt's home in Penicuik.
The motor cycle was found under a tarpaulin and the car found nearby.
When Watson was interviewed by police he admitted taking the motorcycle while someone had stolen the car.
His lawyer said: "He was not the brains or the organiser of this particular escapade."
Not guilty pleas to five other charges relating to thefts from cars and garages in Innerleithen and Tweedbank in December 2015 were accepted by the Crown.
Sheriff Peter Paterson accepted Watson "was not the leading light in the offence".
He imposed a community pay back order involving 100 unpaid hours as an alternative to custody and warned Watson what would happen if he was back before him.
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