THREE people involved in a £40,000 fraud against BT walked free from court yesterday.

Michael Moloney, 31, his 23-year-old wife, Becky, and Alec Holt, 30, were all given suspended prison sentences at Teesside Crown Court Judge Peter Armstrong said Michael Maloney was behind the scam, which involved ordering equipment from the company, but changing the delivery address from a fictitious one to his own when it was in transit.

Holt, of Redcar Road, Guisborough, sold some of the television boxes, internet hubs and telephones through his eBay account called Big Bargain Blitz.

Becky Moloney, who lives with her husband in Chalcot Walk, Middlesbrough, was said to have signed for some of the packages.

Her lawyer, Julian Gaskin, said she was in ill-health, and added: "She fully understands the serious nature of the allegation she faces."

Jeff Taylor, who represented her husband, said he had lost a well-paid job at steelmakers SSI, and the couple struggled for money.

Mr Taylor said it was an unsophisticated attempt at fraud, and Moloney was always going to be caught because he made some of the orders in his own name, some in his wife's and used the registration number of their car.

Nigel Soppitt, for Holt told the court: "He has pretty much abandoned his website trading to avoid any further contention.

"It's a lesson he has learned. He has been drawn into this offending by temptation. He knew he could get those boxes, and knew he could sell them quickly."

All three admitted a charge of conspiracy to defraud, and had their prison sentences suspended for two years.

Michael Moloney got 12 months with 180 hours of unpaid work; Holt was given eight months with 120 hours of community work; and Becky Moloney got four months, with a ten-day rehabilitation activity requirement.