BACKGROUND reports have been ordered into a Borders man who admitted stealing a laptop and other items from a friend's house.

Twenty-one-year-old Nathan Rice, of Glenburn Avenue, Newtown St Boswells, pleaded guilty to the theft which happened on March 24.

Depute fiscal Alison Atkins said that the occupancy of the house woke up to the sound of cables being moved downstairs in the property.

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Selkirk Sheriff Court heard that Rice had been in the house earlier and realised the front door was open and had gone back in.

Ms Atkins said: "The householder found his laptop cables in the communal stairwell and on returning to the house found that other items were missing.

"He tried to contact Mr Rice without success.

"A member of the public found the accused lying intoxicated near the Crematorium in Melrose at around 7.15am. The member of the public offered to call an ambulance as the accused had a cut on his forehead. He was in possession of a rucksack with items in it.

"Other members of the public attended and he told them he had had a disagreement with a friend over money.

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"He declined medical attention but someone still phoned 999 for the police and an ambulance.

"However before they arrived the accused left in a taxi and he was later traced to the accident and emergency department at Borders General Hospital.

"The police attended at the locus of the theft and took a statement from the householder and reviewed CCTV which showed the accused leaving the house carrying items."

Rice's second offence happened in Currie Road, Galashiels, at twenty to three in the morning on April 10.

Police on mobile patrol were flagged down over a disturbance taking place and when they arrived it appeared it had involved Rice and another man.

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However Rice was belligerent, had glazed eyes, a laboured walk and appeared to be intoxicated with something according to the fiscal.

He swore at officers and started to struggle with them when he was arrested.

Defence lawyer Colin Severin said Rice was owed money by his friend and took the items as insurance for repayment.

Sheriff Richard Fife deferred sentence until August 23 for the production of a Criminal Justice Social Work Report and a Restriction of Liberty Order assessment.