A MANAGER who looted £80,000 from a Spar shop in Newton Abbot has been spared a jail sentence after repaying almost half the money.

Simon Hukku used his position of trust at the Spar shop to steal money from the cashpoint machine and doctor records to cover up the thefts.

His dishonesty threatened the viability of the shop and the jobs of its 15 staff but the owner was insured for some of the cost.

Hukku has sold his home and his share of the equity in it will help repay the rest of the money to co-owner Kevin Tilling, although the insurance company will still be out of pocket.

Hukku, aged 35, of Hollow Pits Court, Exeter, admitted theft and was jailed for 16 months, suspended for two years by Judge Peter Johnson at Exeter Crown Court.

He was ordered to do 120 hours unpaid community work and to repay a total of £40,000 under the proceeds of crime act. Of this amount, £31,040 will be paid to the owner immediately and the rest to the insurance company.

Hukku was also ordered to carry on paying £500 a month for the next three years to the insurers, a total of £18,000.

The Judge deferred sentence last August to enable Hukku to save up and realise assets so he could repay the shop’s franchisee.

At the earlier hearing, he told him: ‘You were entrusted with the finances including the ATM machine and systematically took money. It averaged £4,000 a month. That is a lot of money.

‘You were doing this so you could work more hours and spend more time with your children but you were putting at risk a number of jobs. Initially you suggested the co-owners might be responsible when there was clear evidence it was you.’

Miss Felicity Payne, prosecuting, said Hukku stole £80,940 over 20 months before being detected in 2018. He was called to an investigatory meeting but said he needed to go out for some fresh air and never returned.

He tried to blame others during his police interview but then rang the officer a few days later to confess.

He said he took £100 the first time to pay a bill and things spiralled out of control.

Co-owner Kevin Tilling wrote a victim impact statement saying the thefts had been suspected for some time and the losses put up to 15 jobs at risk.

They also created a great deal of stress and extra work sorting out loss adjusters and forensic accountants.

Mr Adrian Chaplin, defending, said Hukku took the money at a time when his marriage was under strain and he wanted to spend more time with his children.

He has shown his determination to make amends by saving up £4,000 since the last hearing in August.

He is utterly remorseful and realises that he has set his children a terrible example.