A catering manager at Sandwell College who stole £22,000 from the institution to get himself out of debt was given a suspended prison sentence today.

Ian Sterndale aged 50, was told by a judge that his stealing was a wicked offence and a serious breach of trust.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard today how Sterndale had been earning £24,000 a year in his job at the college where he had started as a chef in 1998.

He was promoted to catering manager in 2003 and may have been stealing from as far back as 2007.

The court was told that an internal review found that the cost of the food purchased did not tally with receipts.

Sterndale of Rowheath House, Northfield, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to theft.

Judge John Wait imposed a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of community service.

He was also given a six month curfew banning him from leaving his house between 7pm and 5am.