A SOUTHAMPTON company was conned into paying for goods which its £27,000-a-year engineering manager had ordered for his own firm, the city crown court heard.

Nigel Withington, 52, set up Hedge End Engineering and undercut his employers, Abbey Air, for contract work for a major client.

He then filled out requisition forms - and Abbey Air unknowingly met the bills.

Peter Henry, prosecuting, commented: "He would get something for nothing.''

Withington was caught when he was seen cutting up a steel gantry with another employee and arrested.

The father-of-two, from Aspen Close, Hedge End, pleaded guilty to five charges of theft involving about £750 worth of materials and was ordered to carry out 200 hours' community service as well as pay £913 prosecution costs.

Judge Paul Darlow told him: "These offences are serious because they involved the exploitation of your position to steal. They were clearly premeditated and carried out with some sophistication. This was a gross abuse of trust.''

But the judge said he was just able to spare him a prison sentence because of his previous good character, he had lost his good name and reputation, had got himself another job and represented a low risk in re-offending.

Keith Hadrill, defending, said Withington had used some of the stolen material in his passion of restoring classic motorcycles.

Withington believed the gantry was redundant as it had been stored outside his firm's premises for six months.

"It has still not been repaired and still lies there 18 months later redundant but he accepts he didn't have his employer's permission to cannibalise it.''