A MAN has appeared in court on petition accused of a series of break-ins and car thefts, including in East Lothian.

Nathan Elliot faced a total of 27 charges when he appeared in private from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Elliot, 26, is charged with eight counts of theft by housebreaking, five of attempted housebreaking and seven offences of theft of a motor vehicle.

He is also charged with four road traffic offences, including dangerous driving, one of theft, one of being found found within a building or vehicle with the intention of committing theft, and a single charge of fraud.

Elliot, whose address was only given as Midlothian, made no plea and was remanded in custody.

The case was committed for further examination and he will appear back at the Capital court within eight days.

The court appearance follows an announcement from Police Scotland that a 26-year-old man had been charged following an investigation into a series of alleged break-ins and thefts across the Lothian and Borders region.

The incidents were said to have taken place in Tranent, Prestonpans, Galashiels, Selkirk, Livingston, Gorebridge and Stow between September 6 and October 10.