AN office manager who stole £412,000 from a firm of solicitors was jailed for four years.

David Clattenburg took the money from Singleton Winn Saunders while running its office in Byker, Newcastle.

The 45-year-old, of Tavern Close, Cramlington, Northumberland, admitted theft and fraud at Durham Crown Court, last month.

Jailing him at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Peter Davies praised Detective Constable Sarah Robson, for bringing him to justice.

Speaking after the hearing, the Northumbria force detective said: “For 25 years he worked at Singleton Winn Saunders, a small firm of solicitors in Byker, latterly as their office manager, in a position of great trust.

“Over 10 years he stole just in excess of £412,000 via cash withdrawals, bank transfers and cheques, often using deception ‘masks’ to try and hide his criminality.

“Given the implicit trust placed in him, and friendship, he abused his position in a most grievous manner.”

Clattenberg, dismissed for gross misconduct, in April, 2015, was banned from working for any law firm, by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority, in April last year.