SUSPICION fell on innocent woment at the office of Easybus at Stansted Airport after monies went missing, a court heard on Friday. But the person who pilfered the cash was Peter Shellard, who was employed by Easybus as a supervisor of the drivers, Chelm

SUSPICION fell on innocent woment at the office of Easybus at Stansted Airport after monies went missing, a court heard on Friday.

But the person who pilfered the cash was Peter Shellard, who was employed by Easybus as a supervisor of the drivers, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

Shellard, 46, of The Green, Cheshunt, admitted two charged of theft and another offence of making a false representation in respect of car parking expenses.

Shellard was placed under the supervision of a probation officer for two years, ordered to attend a Think First Programme and do 140 hours unpaid community work.

He was also ordered to pay a total of £931 compensation and £1000 prosecution costs.

Judge Christopher Ball QC told Shellard, who was said to have previous convictions for theft and deception: "You are someone who has a dishonest streak in you."

He added: "When money goes missing in a small office suspicion falls on everyone. They are all looking over their shoulders. They all distrust each other because they know there is a rotten apple in their midst. That was you. It causes great distress to everyone."

Rex Bryan, prosecuting, said the first theft happened on July 3 last year. Takings amounting to £611 were put in an envelope and placed in a cupboard ready for banking later that day. But when the money was due to be collected it was discovered the envelope and its contents had gone.

Suspicion fell on the young women working in the office, but one of them had noticed Shellard in the office at the relevant time.

My Bryan said between May 29 and July 3 last year a driver's 'float' of £200 in cash was also stolen from the office.

The court heard that Shellard also benefited to the tune of £120 in respect of false tickets for car parking expenses.

Lynne Shirley, mitigating, said Shellard committed the offences out of financial desperation. He had been out of work for eight months before obtaining the job at Easybus and was behind with his rent and bills. Two days before the offences happened he had been served with an eviction order.

Miss Shirley said the thefts were "impulsive acts" and Shellard was very ashamed. He had lost his job because of the offences and now worked as a nightshift manager for a brewery.

Judge Ball told Shellard: "Because of your miserable record of dishonesty you deserve to go inside. But because of your guilty pleas and the fact I am told you are making inroads into your debts and sorting yourself out I won't send you to prison today.