A COUNCIL IT worker who felt 'slighted' when he was overlooked for a promotion has been spared a prison sentence after defrauding the taxpayer of £200,000.

Robert Young ordered Apple computers, mobile phones and other electrical items on Bournemouth council's account before selling them on. During a sentencing hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday, it was heard that the 42-year-old wanted to manage his department. It was a "bugbear" that he didn't, it was said.

Young, of Heathfield Way in West Moors, realised he could order electronic goods without being challenged. Over the course of around four years, he had the items delivered to either his home or "unlikely" locations on council premises.

The defendant sold the items to third-party companies and pocketed the proceeds. He admitted fraud by abuse of position and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

James Kellam, prosecuting, said: "He worked in IT at Bournemouth council and in that capacity he discovered he could order goods and his orders went substantially unchallenged.

"He was ordering goods for delivery to his home address and unlikely locations on council property where he would pick them up.

"What he did not discover was that his dishonest orders would eventually come to light as part of the audit process.

"He was challenged in a disciplinary meeting and initially denied it but it became apparent during that meeting that the game was up, he put his head in his hands and acknowledged that he 'had been stupid'."

Richard Wayman, mitigating, said Young's lucrative pension pot would pay back most of the money.

"He has been punished already, he has thrown away everything he had," Mr Wayman said.

"He has lost his job and career. He has lost his marriage and his ability to see his children as he would like.

"He has lost some friends, his pension - so he has effectively stolen from his own future – and his reputation.

"He hasn't been able to give me a clear answer what his motivation was, I don't think he knows himself.

"It is perhaps natural justice that there is every probability of repayment from his pension means that the only person he has ultimately defrauded is himself."

Judge Stephen Climie sentenced Young to a two-year suspended sentence with a three-month curfew and 150 hours of unpaid work. The defendant was told the curfew would prevent him enjoying the long summer evenings.

"You are clearly an intelligent man capable of operating at a high level," Judge Climie said.

"I have been listening and watching with some care and I am quite satisfied, not least from your behaviour in the dock, but also the reactions of your family and friends, that this has had a very substantial and negative impact on you and your family.

"I am just persuaded that you do not need to go immediately to prison, but there has to be an element of punishment. You are not going to be enjoying the late summer months out and about in the evenings.

"You may have felt hard done by by the local authority in some of their dealings. It may in your mind have been justified. However, everybody has struggles they have to deal with at work.

"You have been comparatively privileged and you will see the struggles of the people you will be carrying out unpaid work with.

"You have the opportunity to learn from the lifestyle of others just how fortunate you were previously, whatever you felt about what was going on in work.

"If you don't meet these requirements you and I will meet again and you will go to prison."