THE manager of a shop at the University of York is today a convicted thief after he handed himself in to police and confessed to five crimes against his employer.

Detectives had no idea money was missing from the Nisa shop in Halifax Court, though the university suspected something was wrong, Keith Haggerty, defending, told York Magistrates Court.

Martin James Stubbs, 46, was trying to deal with £250,000 debts he was hiding from his wife. Part of them were due to a greengrocer's shop that he also ran in Helmsley until it ran into problems with suppliers.

York Press: York Magistrates Court - zxc

After he stole nearly £4,000 from five separate days' takings at the campus shop, his conscience would not let him steal more.

"He went home and confessed all to his wife," said Mr Haggerty. "He went straight to the police and they conceded they knew nothing of it."

District judge Adrian Lower told Stubbs: "That, I am sure, must have taken you, as a man of 46 with no previous history of offending a great deal of courage to do. It was the right thing to do."

Stubbs of Curzon Terrace, off Knavesmire Road in York, pleaded guilty to five charges of theft from his employer and was ordered to do 240 hours' unpaid work and repay all the £3,857.80 he stole.

The district judge finished his sentencing remarks by saying: "I can only wish you the best in getting your life back in order."

Mr Haggerty said Stubbs had lost his job at the university as a result of his thefts and had reached an initial agreement with his creditors. He was hoping to avoid bankruptcy.

He had hid his head in the sand over his debts and had only properly added them up after confessing to his wife about his thefts.

"He broke down at the enormity of it," he said.

Katie Varlow, prosecuting, said he had stolen the money on five dates between January 6 and January 24 by not banking all the takings. He told police his debts included a £133,000 mortgage.