A Skipton Building Society employee who stole more than £10,000 from its staff association has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Bradford Crown Court heard last Friday that 23-year-old Craig Davey, who was treasurer of the association's account, took the cash over an 11-month period last year after he built up debts through drink and recreational drugs.

Davey, who had been working for the society since April 2003, forged the signature of another staff member in order to make more than 50 withdrawals from the account and the offences only came to light when he failed to turn up for work at the beginning of this year.

Prosecutor Simon Waley told Recorder Mark Burn that when a search was made of Davey's desk at the society's headquarters, a withdrawal slip with a forged signature was discovered.

As a result of the 53 withdrawals, Davey, who had no previous convictions, had obtained a total of £10,205.46.

When he was interviewed by police he made full admissions and explained that the thefts had resulted from increasing debts due to drinking and using recreational drugs.

Jonathon Oultram, for Davey, said his client had been admitted to hospital following a suicide attempt shortly before the offences began last February.

He said Davey, of Bracken Road, Ingrow, Keighley, had suffered the breakdown of a relationship and was prescribed anti-depressants.

"I do have a real concern for this young man as far as custody is concerned, and I don't say that lightly," said Mr Oultram.

"If there is an alternative to a custodial sentence that should be looked at very strongly."

Mr Oultram said there had been three suicide attempts in the past 12 months and Davey was now in receipt of medication and living with his mother.

He said Davey was hoping to get bar work as a way of paying back the money to the association, but he conceded it would be "a long haul".

Davey pleaded guilty to six offences of theft and asked for 47 others to be taken into consideration at an earlier hearing before magistrates, and last Friday appeared at the crown court for sentence.

Recorder Burn told Davey that it was a significant aggravating feature of the case that he had forged the signature of a colleague.

"Had it been the case that that gentleman had been arrested or taken into custody as a result of these offences I would not have been able to do anything other than to send you immediately to custody," said Recorder Burn.

"As it is, this series of offences is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified, but I have taken the view that I can suspend the sentence of custody on this occasion."

Recorder Burn stressed that it had not been a "victimless crime" and the staff association had lost its good name as a result.

"Their only error was to trust you and you let them down badly," added Recorder Burn.

"That said, it seems to me that at this stage no good will come of locking you up. You have a number of personal problems -- some of your own making and some of them not."

Davey was sentenced to eight months in jail, suspended for two years, but he will also be subject to a supervision requirement and have to do 150 hours unpaid work in the community.

Recorder Burn said Davey would have to pay compensation of £3,500 at the rate of £100 per month.

"Given your present circumstances it is unrealistic for me to make an order in the full amount, but you should expect the staff association, and I hope it will take this up, to take proceedings against you in the county court for the balance as and when you have money," he said.