A former worker at a York business has been given a community punishment after admitting to false accounting which amounted to more than £35,000.

Richard Hughes, 25, pleaded guilty at York Crown Court to six counts of false accounting last year at his former workplace HRPC, a plumbing company in James Street, York.

The court heard how Hughes manipulated the company stock system and created a false trail to cover himself.

In mitigation, Nick Lumley said Hughes was shown how to manipulate the stock by another former employee.

The court heard how letters had been written to the court by family members and Mr Lumley said Hughes had become a different person after a close friend died.

He said: "This series of offences was completely out of character.

"This defendant is not criminally sophisticated. It was an enormous sense of relief when his employers found out. He was unable to sleep at night because of his wrong-doing."

He said that although £35,000 was stolen, Hughes only made up to £4,000 from the scam.

In sentencing Recorder David Dobbin said Hughes, of New Park Vale, Farsley, Leeds, was introduced to the system of false accounting by an ex-employee and that his benefit from it was only small.

Recorder Dobbin sentenced Hughes to a community punishment and rehabilitation punishment order of 12 months probation and 100 hours community service.

Updated: 11:22 Tuesday, June 12, 2001