A DEBT-ridden catering manager who stole almost £22,000 while working at Sandwell College’s Oldbury campus has been spared a prison sentence.

Judge John Wait ruled 50-year-old Ian Sterndale should instead be a "prisoner" inside his own home as he made him the subject of a six month curfew order between the hours of 7pm and 5am.

Sterndale, of Rowheath House, Northfield, who was earning £24,000 a year, stole the money from the college over a five month period after falling heavily into debt, said Miss Rhiannon Jones prosecuting.

She told Wolverhampton Crown Court he had started work at the college as a chef in 1998 and, in 2003, was promoted to catering manager but he was rumbled after the appointment of a new finance director.

A check on the books revealed a "massive" shortfall between the sales of meals and the money banked and, after his arrest, Sterndale told police officers his stealing began two years earlier.

He said he was taking part of the daily takings at the college and he then falsified return sheets because of debts involving loans and credit cards.

Sterndale, who resigned from his job, admitted theft and was also given a 12 month jail term suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours community punishment.

Miss Sharonjit Bahia, defending, said the father-of- one had been "struggling" because of his financial problems.

After the hearing Sandwell College Principal Val Bailey said: “Ian Sterndale is no longer an employee of Sandwell College.

“Financial irregularities were discovered following an internal audit and the police were immediately contacted. It is extremely disappointing when an employee breaches a position of trust.”