THE manager of a shop narrowly avoided jail time after stealing at least £18,500 from the business.

Jamie Sartori, 39, of Chapel Street in Mousehole, wrote an online review of Boscaswell Stores in Pendeen after he had been discovered, which read: "Very overpriced, mouldy fresh fruit and veg. Staff are never happy."

He also blamed a female member of staff for the missing money and later accused the shop's owner of being intimidating and controlling.

The fraudster was ordered to repay just £5,000, with Judge Robert Linford at Truro Crown Court saying that he hoped the business would take civil proceedings to recover the rest.

Judge Robert Linford said that Sartori should consider himself "extremely fortunate" for escaping custody.

Sartori falsified invoices allowing him to pocket the money between April 2016 and March 2017 during a period when the shop's owner was going through a "time of great stress" relating to a family member.

The shop's owner suffered from anxiety and depression following the fraud and took no pay, instead putting all money made into repaying debts that had accumulated as a result of Sartori's actions.

She considered selling the business, but found that its value had fallen dramatically as a result of Sartori's fraud.

He pleaded guilty and was given sentence of 16 months, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete the maximum possible amount of unpaid work – 300 hours.

Judge Robert Linford cited the fact that Sartori has a son who depends on him and has started a new job as reasons why he did not imprison him.