A 42-year-old man who hired a taxi between Galashiels and Innerleithen and never paid the £25 fare has been ordered to carry out 60 hours unpaid work at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Kevin Wilkinson pleaded guilty to the offence which happened near to his home in Caddon Court, Innerleithen, on May 31.

Procurator Graham Fraser said it was 3.50 in the afternoon and Wilkinson asked a taxi driver to take him the 12-mile journey to Innerleithen saying he was meeting a friend who would give him the money for the £25 fare.

He added: "Inevitably it did not happen and the taxi driver lost out on £25."

Sheriff Euan Edmont said: "I hope you are not proud of this. "Quite clearly you planned this against someone who was just going about their work."

The unpaid work is to be carried out over the next six months and is an alternative to custody.