A 20-year-old man who admitted stealing alcohol from a Hawick shop at 6.15 in the morning has received a four months jail sentence.

David Cotton, of Wilton Crescent, Hawick, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to stealing three bottles of wine from McColl's in Kenilworth Avenue, on January 13.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the value of the wine was £22.50 and Cotton was already on three bail orders at the time of the offence.

He explained: "It was 6.15am and he was seen to come into the shop while staff were stocking the shelves. "The glass bottles clinking together were heard and this was captured on CCTV.

"He could not have bought the alcohol at that time in the morning."

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said: "He does not remember this incident. He was drinking far too much at the time."

He added that Cotton was currently serving a custodial sentence and asked that any sentence did not affect his release date of June 12.

Cotton receive four months custody to run concurrently with his current sentence.