A serial thief has admitted stealing goods from shops in Prestonpans and Tranent.

Scot Durie took a quantity of cosmetics from the Co-op on Mid Road, Prestonpans, worth £134.90 on August 26 last year.

The 37-year-old also stole cosmetics and toiletries from the town’s Day To Day store at Redburn Road, worth £60, four days later. He also pleaded guilty to stealing £40 of goods from Asda in Tranent on September 1 last year.

Durie, of North Bank Road, Prestonpans, failed to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday but his lawyer lodged guilty pleas in his absence.

He also admitted breaching bail conditions by entering all three stores when he had previously been told not to. A further guilty plea to stealing a quantity of meat from the Co-op at Mid Road on November 30 last year was also accepted.

Sheriff John Cook heard there was no recovery of any of the stolen items and deferred sentence to next month for Durie to appear at court in person.