A BANKRUPT businessman who sold his house and spent the proceeds to keep it from his creditors has been spared jail by magistrates in Harrogate.

Terence Shane Hutchinson, of West End Avenue, in Harrogate, admitted breaching bankruptcy law by selling his home in October 2009 and disposing of more than £58,000, including splashing out £22,000 on a holiday, a BMW and a skiing trip for his daughter.

Hutchinson, a director of Clean-It Contracts, had outstanding judgements against him at the time.

He was sentenced to four months imprisonment suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 240 hours of unpaid work.

He was also told to repay prosecution costs of £750 and has also signed a nine-year Bankruptcy Restriction Undertaking.