A FORMER finance manager who stole more than £13,000 from a Hampshire hospice has escaped an immediate jail sentence.

Simon Plummer was working at Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington when he took money donated to the facility and used it to pay for building work at his home.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Plummer, 41, of Widden Close, Sway, was handed an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Plummer, who admitted fraud, was also ordered to pay £350 costs and complete 300 hours of unpaid work.

James Kellam, prosecuting, said the defendant was the subject of a disciplinary hearing when the fraud came to light. He repaid all the money he had stolen but was fired from his job as Oakhaven's finance manager.

Keeley Harvey, in mitigation, told the court that her client was full of shame and remorse.

She added: "He did not start out to commit fraud but that's what it became over a period of time after life got on top of him and he lost control of what he was doing."

Judge Gary Burrell told the defendant: "It was a tremendous breach of trust and a dreadful thing to do."

Plummer was made the subject of a 10pm-5am curfew that will remain in force for six months.