A FORK lift truck driver from Ledbury who admitted stealing scaffolding equipment from a site where he was working was ordered to pay £1,000 in fines and costs at Gloucester Crown court.

Paul Wheeler, aged 53, of Coachman's Court, Ledbury, pleaded guilty on Monday, October 16 to stealing the equipment owned by MG Scaffolding (Oxford) Ltd from a Bloor Homes building site in Prestbury road, Cheltenham, on September 25 last year.

Until now Wheeler, who worked for Bloor, had denied the offence and was to have stood jury trial on Monday alongside co-defendant Derek Bick, 61, of Tuffley Lane, Gloucester.

After Wheeler pleaded guilty, however, the prosecution did not proceed against Mr Bick and he was formally declared not guilty by Judge Jamie Tabor QC.

Prosecutor Janine Wood said that at 6pm on the day of the theft a scaffolder who worked on the site was walking past with his dog, keeping an eye out because there had been a theft there a few weeks earlier.

He saw two men and recognised one as Wheeler but did not know Mr Bick, who was looking through some buckets of scaffolding gear.

Mrs Wood said Wheeler told the passer-by he had authority to take some items. The worker was still suspicious and called police. When a PCSO arrived he accepted the explanation and left but the witness rang the police again and another officer was sent.

By that time the £200 worth of equipment listed in the charge was in the back of Mr Bick's van, added the prosecutor.

After it was established that Wheeler had no right to take any property belonging to the scaffolding company the two men effectively blamed each other, added Mrs Wood.

Simon Cooper, for Wheeler, submitted it had not been 'a gross breach of trust.'

"He has never done anything like this before," Mr Cooper said. "He is a family man with a wife and four children. Two of them are now grown up.

"This offending has had a real impact on him - he has lost his good name. And he has lost his job. He was dismissed immediately

"He was two months out of work but now has a new job doing similar work but lower paid. He has told his new employer of this offence. "

Wheeler was £15,000 in debt and behind with his rent, added Mr Cooper.

"He is ashamed of himself and embarrassed. He has let himself and his family down."

Fining Wheeler £600 and ordering him to pay £400 costs, Judge Tabor said "It is not just you who is punished. Your family are also feeling your shame. You have never before been convicted of an offence of dishonesty so this is a sad day for you."