An accountant from Peebles admitted embezzling thousands while volunteering for an Edinburgh veteran's charity

A Peebles man who embezzled almost £60,000 from Scottish charities has avoided jail.

Accountant Derek Armour admitted to stealing the money from Scottish Veterans' Garden City Association, which is based in Edinburgh, when he volunteered for the charity between May 2014 and May 2015.

His case was heard at Selkirk Sheriff Court, where it was revealed he has since paid back the sum in full.

Sheriff Peter Paterson sentenced Armour to an 18 month community payback order of 200 hours unpaid work.

Addressing Armour, Paterson said: "This is an unusual matter.

"If you had not made full restitution to the charity a custodial sentence would have followed."