by Keith Hunt

A drug addict planned to go on an expensive honeymoon to Australia - despite facing sentence for a £10,500 fraud.

But Colin Caffrey was persuaded to cancel the flights costing more than £2,000 after a judge said it was "simply risible" that he should consider taking such a trip when compensation should be paid.

The 37-year-old, of Grenadier Close, Rainham, was facing a possible jail sentence after admitting fraud and theft by an employee and asking for 12 offences to be taken into consideration.

But Judge Jeremy Carey said he would take a more constructive approach after Caffrey and his fiancee hastily made arrangements for a refund on their flights.

Under a community order for 12 months, he was ordered to pay back £9,000. The judge said he would "knock off" the £1,125 Caffrey would lose as a result of cancelling his holiday.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Caffrey was working for Meridian Vehicle Hire, which maintained a car owned by private ambulance company Caring For You.

Gareth Nicholl, prosecuting, said Caffrey took a fuel card in the car and used it 111 times at a total cost of £10,460.

It involved obtaining fuel often twice a day at £100 a time. Caffrey told police he would meet a man at the petrol station, who would fill up his own vehicle on the card.

The man would give Caffrey half the amount in cash. He received £100 a day.

When arrested in September last year, Caffrey claimed he found the card in the staff canteen. At the time, he was heavily addicted to crack cocaine, he said, and used the money to fund his habit.

Mr Nicholl said Caffrey's previous convictions included stealing from another employee almost five years ago.

Judge Carey said he would send Caffrey to prison "without hesitation" but it would not help the loser. The starting point would have been four months.

He recommended that Caffrey should not leave the country for more than seven days.

"It does not mean you cannot go on holiday or a celebration of marriage if you can afford it," he said.

Caffrey was ordered to repay £1,000 by February 9 and the balance at £400 a month.