A CASHIER has escaped a jail term despite stealing £13,000 from the Hampshire firm he described as being “like a family”.

Jack Neal made a series of bogus refunds, crediting money to his own debit card while working at Elliotts builders merchants in Totton, where he had worked for five years.

Today he is beginning a suspended jail term after admitting his criminal behaviour, which started in January 2012.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the 23-year-old, of Shaw Close, Totton, had “betrayed” the trust of the company through his actions.

The court was told he had been under financial pressure at the time, spending two thirds of his salary on rent and felt a “sense of inadequacy” at the amount he was providing for his family compared to the father of his wife.

In mitigation, the court heard how he had spoken of his “shame” at his actions and that he had managed to secure a job serving coffee, making efforts to repay some of the money he had stolen.

The dad-of-one had wanted to ensure that his child was “specially cared for” and he described Elliotts as having been “like a family” to him.

But recorder Nicholas Atkinson QC told him: “You were in a position, it seems to me, of considerable trust which you betrayed. You had been with them for several years.

“As a result of your foolishness, you have lost your job and it must have contributed to losing your wife.”

He was sentenced to 12 months in jail suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.