A BOSS at a national chain of care homes has dodged jail despite stealing almost £100,000 and putting residents' care at risk.

Stephen Singers wrote 63 cheques for himself over more than five years while he worked as a payroll manager in Darlington.

Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday how the father-of-three had a "terrible" gambling addiction and enjoyed no "high living".

The 60-year-old had worked for Four Seasons Health Care at Lingfield Point for more than ten years before the fraud started in 2009.

He was earning £57,300 a year and had a company Audi when his dishonesty was discovered in January, said prosecutor David Crook.

Singers, from Belmont, Durham, paid the cheques into a bank account belonging to his daughter's unsuspecting partner.

He told his unwitting accomplice that the money was bonuses from work and his winnings from his betting, the court heard.

John Turner, mitigating, said Singers had been of exemplary character before his gambling habit forced him into crime.

He had served with distinction in the army for 24 years - including several tours of Northern Ireland, during the troubles.

Mr Turner told the judge, Recorder Tahir Khan, QC: "It's an extreme shame a man of 60 with no previous convictions should appear before you.

"He has three children and a wife who are all present in court today. He is ashamed for what he has brought to them more than anything that will happen to him."

Singers admitted a charge of fraud and was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years with 300 hours of unpaid community work.

Mr Recorder Khan said he was sparing him immediate jail because Singers had shown genuine remorse, the motivation for his crimes was an addiction, and his family would suffer.

The court heard that his wife suffered from "emotional health problems" and Singers helped her with day-to-day chores.

He also has another job with an advertising company, and is trying to sell his home and settle his debts, said Mr Turner.

Singers, of Margaret Court, Belmont, took £97,929 from the company between November 2009 and January this year.

Head of shared services Jane Smith said in a statement: "The stolen funds will ultimately reduce the level of expenditure we can invest in care homes to improve the quality of life of residents.

"It amounts to a full year's capital expenditure on two average-sized care homes, or five additional carers for a full year.

"Stephen Singer's actions have had a negative impact on vulnerable residents in our care."