Jail threat for 'desperate' Doncaster bookkeeper who swindled Sheffield playground firm

Jason Waterhouse had been working at Timberplay Ltd for five months before the fraud was uncovered, said prosecutor Fatima Zafar.

But instead of paying the suppliers of the company, which installs childrens' playground equipment, he siphoned off £6,159.

The court heard he has one previous conviction from 2007, when he received a community order for dishonesty after helping himself to petty cash.

Janice Young, mitigating, said it was an "act of desperation," caused by £10,000 debts that he ran up with his former partner.

She asked for the case to be adjourned for a second time, so Waterhouse could obtain a letter confirming that his current employers know about his criminal record and will let him keep his job.

"His line manager is aware of the situation but he can't do the letter because it must go through HR," she said.

"The stress of knowing that he could go to prison has had its effect on him."

Waterhouse, 41, of Windmill Balk Lane, Woodlands, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to fraud by false accounting, at Sheffield Magistrates Court on January 21.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told him: "This is a relatively straightforward case which has been made difficult by your conduct.

"I have consdierable reservations about this contents of this letter. You run the very serious risk of going to jail.”

The case was adjourned until February 10.