Jewel thief reoffends

A ROBBER who trussed up a jeweller during a raid tried to commit a similar crime after his early release from jail.

Maurice Hotchkiss, of St Martin's Place, Haddington, admitted attempting to rob Jeffrey James Jewellers at High Street, Haddington, on June 16 this year, when he appeared in court yesterday.

Judge Lord Woolman was told that Hotchkiss' previous convictions included theft, assault, drugs and a five-and-a-half-year sentence in 2006 after he tied up a member of staff at a jeweller's in Musselburgh and robbed him.

The robber was released on licence but that was revoked following his latest crime.

Sentence was deferred.