A chef siphoned off more than £9,000 from the charity where he worked via the debit card he was given to buy supplies.

Lee McKone took cash for himself from the Northorpe Hall Child and Family trust based in Mirfield.

The trust supports children’s mental and emotional health in Kirklees from fundraising among others at the 16th century Northorpe Hall.

Imran Khan, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday that McKone was employed from October 2009 as a chef and his responsibilities included managing the catering supplies.

Last year the income of the trust was found to have dropped and when investigations were made it was discovered that McKone had submitted fraudulent receipts and had inflated the amounts on others, then pocketed the difference.

When questioned he said because some items did not have receipts he had inflated others to keep the balance spent right in the accounts.

Although that was not accepted as a legitimate action the trust could only show £271 had been taken in that way and that was repaid from his wages.

He was dismissed from the employment but further inquiries then showed he had been using the debit card to obtain cash back over some 20 months, totalling £9,585

Ken Green, representing McKone, said his client had taken advantage of the “slapdash record keeping” at the trust and his dishonesty would inevitably have been found out since he had exclusive use of the card.

He accepted it was disgraceful behaviour. “He expresses his genuine shame and remorse.”

He said McKone now has a part-time job serving breakfast at a hotel but mainly was a “house husband” for his three children so his wife could work because of their precarious financial position.

McKone, 36, of Rochdale Road, Greetland, admitted theft by misusing the card and was given a 12 months jail sentence suspended for two years with 240 hours of unpaid work and 15 activity days.

He was also ordered to pay£2,000 in compensation after offering £80 a month.

Recorder Peter Babb told him if he could discharge the rest of the debt owed in the future he should do so.