MOUNTING debts led an Eastham man to steal from his employers, Wirral magistrates heard.

Prosecutor Rob Jones said police who went to the home of 31-year-old Lee Rodney Peters, in Paisley Avenue, found the garage 'like a warehouse stuffed full of cereals.'

There was an incinerator in the garden being used to burn cereal boxes.

Peters admitted theft of boxes of cereal, value unknown, belonging to Cereal Partners UK at Bromborough between July and October.

He told the police he stole 1,000 boxes worth in excess of £1,000 and the motivation was mounting debts. He let it be known that he had cereals for sale at a 'knock-down price' of 50p per box and said his profit would have been about £750.

Richard Nicholas, defending, said Peters deeply regretted the situation he got himself into due to his debts. He had made between £60 and £120, with the rest of the cereals still in the garage.

He maintained that prison would be a negative step, adding that although Peters was working again, his income was far outweighed by debt.

There was no application for compensation, but Peters had to serve 100 hours' community service and to pay £45 costs.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.