A driver who stole money while making deliveries to fish and chip shops in the West Midlands has been ordered to pay more than £500 and told he must do work in the community.

John Edward Falconer pocketed a total of £462 which was due to his employer Ross Fish Ltd in Bilston over a two-week period, Walsall Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

A previous hearing was told Falconer had worked for the fish wholesaler for 12 months when the cash discrepancies were found.

Prosecutor James Corden-Brown said matters came to a head last September when Falconer was off work sick.

Another employee was asked to do his round and discovered the discrepancies while collecting payments.

“Another member of staff went on the round and was advised the shops had not paid, but when he asked the owners for the money they said they had paid for the goods, but had not been given a receipt,” Mr Corden-Bowen told the court

.The driver pleaded guilty to five charges of theft over two weeks in August and September last year at Walsall Magistrates Court.Trust.

He was yesterday given a community order with six months supervision and told that he must pay back all the money taken in compensation.

The 36-year-old, of Fraser Street, Bilston, was also told to pay £85 costs leaving him with a total bill of £547.

The offences included keeping money he had received from Blakenhall Fish Bar, Lea Village Fish Bar in Birmingham and Park Hill Fish Bar in Burntwood.

Falconer admitted the breach of trust at the company based in Station Road, Bilston, between August 22 and September 3 at the previous hearing.Miss Deborah Cartwright-Stewart, defending, said.

Falconer had financial problems and depression and that led him to commit his crime.