THE manager of a Burnley firm stole cash and goods from work and later claimed a robbery had occurred.

Stephen Eyre, a branch manager of HSS Tool Hire, alleged that two men in balaclavas and armed with a knife had got away with £800 in money.

But the police did not accept his story and a further investigation revealed offences committed by Eyre.

The 33-year-old defendant of Oak Street, Colne, appeared for sentencing at Preston Crown Court, having pleaded guilty to four counts of theft.

He was ordered to carry out 90 hours of community punishment, pay £185 compensation, plus £200 prosecution costs.

The offences occurred late 2004 to early last year. At the time, Eyre was manager of the store's Burnley branch.

He had worked for the firm for six years and held the managerial post for around a year and a half, said Jonathan Dickinson, prosecuting.

Mr Dickinson told the court Eyre had reported a robbery at the firm, saying two men in balaclavas had run into the shop, one of them carrying a knife. He said they demanded money and got away with about £800.

"The police did not accept what he was saying. This led to a further investigation which revealed offences committed by the defendant."

Eyre had fabricated customer complaints, making it look as though people wanted refunds and had forged customer signatures. The people named were contacted and it became apparent they had not made complaints.

The defendant had simply taken money himself. He had also taken stock from the shop floor, including a lawnmower and a petrol strimmer, the court heard.

He was a man of previous good character but lost his job as a result of his thefts.

Judge Anthony Russell QC told Eyre: "You have been, in my view, very very foolish indeed. You acted in breach of the trust placed in you, in a responsible position of manager for this tool hire firm.

"Your foolishness has no doubt caused you and your family and friends an enormous amount of anguish.

"They will not have been able to understand why you committed these offences. You have also lost your good name."