A SOLAR panel salesman diverted most of a customer’s payment into his own account, a court heard.

But Anthony James Wilson only kept the £6,250 for six days before transferring it to his employers, renewable energy business Cleaner Air Solutions.

Durham Crown Court was told he has since left the company, based at nearby Meadowfield Industrial Estate, and set up his own, so far successful business.

Forty-one-year-old Wilson, of Paxton Court, Pity Me, near Durham, appeared at the court last month faced with five charges of fraud by abuse of position, involving sums totalling £8,450, all of which he denied.

The case was adjourned for a trial scheduled to start at the court today (Wednesday March 19).

But on the eve of the three-day hearing he appeared when he admitted one of the five counts, involving the sum of £6,250.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said this was “acceptable” to the Crown, and the remaining four charges would be left to, “lie on the file”.

Susan Hirst, for Wilson, said he felt he was owed money by the company when he left, and his main culpability was having the cheque, sent by a customer in Beverley, near Hull, paid into his own account.

But she said it was only for six days, during a period when he was suffering “cash flow problems”, before he transferred it to the company.

Judge Robert Adams said it may only have been for a few days, but it still amounted to, “a breach of trust”.

He imposed a 12-month community order, with 80-hours’ unpaid work, and told Wilson to pay his former employer £500 compensation, with £60 statutory surcharge.