A DISGRACED scout leader is unlikely ever to be allowed to work with the movement again after he stole £1,300 of its funds.

Michael Graham Carling, 42, devoted his life to scouting in York, the city's magistrates heard.

But he hit family and financial difficulties and took funds from a Scout Association bank account and spent it for his own purposes.

Carling, of Tang Hall Lane, York, pleaded guilty to stealing the money between March 1 and May 31 this year.

Magistrates told him he could have been jailed for his breach of trust. But they took into account that he had pleaded guilty and had no previous criminal convictions, and sentenced him to do a community punishment order, which includes 250 hours of unpaid work.

They also ordered him to repay all the money at £30 a week.

His solicitor, Jeremy Scott, handed in letters on his behalf, and told magistrates: "He has been contacted by the Scout Association at district level and been told it may allow him back into the organisation. The organisation is his life."

Carling, a scout leader, worked 30 hours a week for scouting in York.

Mr Scott said: "He will do everything he can to get back into the organisation."

But after the case Simon Carter, a national spokesman for the Scout Association, said: "It is highly unlikely he would be granted a warrant."

Mr Carter said that all adults in the association had to complete a criminal records bureau form.

"He would certainly have a criminal history and that would come up on his file. I cannot believe we would allow him to be a leader in the future.

"We take young people and our reputation very seriously and anyone who was convicted of such an offence would not be welcome in our movement."

Mr Scott told the court that Carling had lost his job as a forklift driver with Nestle when he had an accident at work. At the time he had been depressed and taking Prozac. Because the accident had been his fault, he had been sacked. He was also having family problems. Carling had since moved house so that his rent was less. He wanted to repay all the money.

Updated: 09:55 Tuesday, July 05, 2005