Pawnbroker Rolex thief avoids time

A MAN who faced jail after admitting to stealing a £9,500 Rolex from a pawnbroker has been ordered to perform 240 hours of Community Service and to repay the value of the watch.

Mark Saines, 30, of Meadowfield Terrace, had pled guilty previously at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to stealing the watch from pawnbrokers, Duncanson and Edwards, in Queen Street, on June 3 last year.

Sentence was deferred until yesterday for background reports.

Saines was identified from the CCTV in the shop.

Defence agent, Robbie Burnett, said his client had no explanation as to why he had taken the watch.

"It was a spur of the moment act of stupidity" he said.