A MAN who was in a car stolen from a Borders garage has been ordered to carry out 70 hours of unpaid work at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Grant Manwell had spent the last three months on remand after being accused of being involved in break-ins to properties in Chirnside and Earlston.

The 20-year-old, originally from Edinburgh but who now has an address in Burntisland, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of allowing himself to be transported in a car which had been stolen from Doug Niven Cars Ltd. on December 8.

The court heard Manwell was spotted on CCTV cameras at a garage in Dunbar emerging from the passenger side of the stolen Ford Escort to pay for fuel.

Procurator fiscal depute Tessa Bradley said there had been a number of crimes of dishonesty and thefts in the Berwickshire area over that weekend.

Sheriff Peter Paterson took into account the length of time Manwell had spent in custody and imposed the unpaid work to be carried out over six months.