A manager at an Avonmouth tyre company who stole a safe from his employer's office then lied to police has walked free from court.

Christopher Stone had been depressed and was suffering from an illness when he took the safe, containing £3,180 in cash and cheques from Mike Knight Tyres on the Severn Side Trading Estate.

The 38-year-old, of Allison Road, Brislington, Bristol, told police he had been alerted to a break-in at his office by an alarm company.

However, Stone was arrested when it was discovered he had never been contacted.

Stone pleaded guilty to a charge of theft.

He was handed a 36-week prison sentence, suspended for two years with a three-month curfew from 7pm to 7am.

He will also have to attend an employment training and education programme.

John Mannion, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, told how Stone, a joint manager at Mike Knight Tyres, stole from his employer on May 28 this year.

He said the defendant stole the safe from an office then phoned police claiming the alarm company that the business uses had phoned him. Police attended as a response to his call and he gave more details about the supposed break-in.

"He said he disturbed two offenders inside the building who took the safe and contents.

"He said he challenged them and received a small cut above his eye caused by a small instrument like a Stanley knife.

"Officers became suspicious when they found the alarm company never made a call to Stone," said Mr Mannion.

He said the defendant was arrested and elaborated his story further before he was charged.

He then told officers he would plead guilty in court.

Timothy Rose, defending Stone, who is of previous good character, said his client committed the offence in "exceptional circumstances".

He said the defendant had been struggling with illness for 18 months before the offence and found himself in an "extraordinary situation" and was not coping and suffering with depression.

He said the theft had only occurred to Stone earlier the same day.

Mr Rose said the defendant had such a good relationship with his employer that the employer asked how he was, and said he didn't want the money back.

Sentencing Stone, Judge Michael Roach said: "To do what you did is undeniably serious.

"You pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. Although you didn't come clean with the police immediately, by the time they charged you, you acknowledged what you had done.

"The seriousness of the case has to be marked with a prison sentence but I'm going to suspend the sentence in the light of the circumstances I have read about."