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THREE men and two women who took part in a £46,000 scam nearly three years ago have walked free from Worcester Crown Court because they have changed their lifestyles.

They admitted charges of theft and fraud, mainly targeting hire firms in the Midlands for heavy equipment used in the building trade and running up unpaid bills for hotels, fuel and vehicle servicing.

There were sighs of relief from the dock when Recorder David Tucker said none of the five accused would be going to jail immediately because they had changed their ways and the sentence had been hanging over them for two years.

Stuart Bradley, 33, of St John's Road, Stourport, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work. His wife Lisa, 25, of the same address, was given a three-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work.

David Hodgkins, 26, of Elmley close, Kidderminster, was jailed for 12 months suspended for two years and ordered to do 300 hours unpaid work.

Matthew Walker, 22, of Larford Walk, Stourport, was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 300 hours unpaid work. Kate Evans, 18, of the same address, was given six months jail suspended for two years with 150 hours unpaid work. She will also be supervised by the probation service for 12 months. The three men were each ordered to pay £200 costs.

Jane Sarginson, prosecuting, said the offences were committed between April, 2005 and February, 2006. There were 58 counts on the original indictment and often the defendants operated together. Not all the allegations had been admitted.

Sometimes equipment was hired and never returned. On other occasions, it was paid with forged cheques or cheques which bounced.

Walker, for instance, was issued with three chequebooks by the NatWest Bank which he was able to use although he never deposited any cash. They were used to hire a van and pay for furniture, baby goods, a trampoline and a computer.

Abigail Nixon, for the Bradleys, said they were married in 2006 and their life had changed. The husband had obtained jobs with Kidderminster Metals and Champagne Chauffeurs and both employers had given him a reference. The couple had two young children and had turned a corner in their lives.

Michael Aspinall, for Walker, said he had been trying to set up his own business but had got into debt. He had been leading a transient lifestyle but had now settled down with Evans and they had a 14-month old child.

Hodgkins, who was also sentenced for handling £6,000 equipment stolen from Worfield Golf Club, Bridgnorth, was said by his counsel, Jason Aris, to have been crippled by debt at the time of the offences. He now had a steady job.

2:24pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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