A BOSS, who stole company money to buy meals for his friends and repair his house, has escaped jail.

Michael Shepherd, 56, of Gib Lane, Skelmanthorpe, abused his position as a director of Seatable UK, to defraud the company of over £6,000 between January 2007 and September 2008.

Shepherd used a company credit card to buy meals for his friends and family and directed invoices for work on his home to the Scissett-based furniture business, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

He has since left the company.

Judge Peter Hunt sentenced Shepherd, who admitted fraud by abuse of position, to a 12-month community order with 160 hours of unpaid work.