THE former manager of a Hereford tyre firm has been jailed for selling £28,000 worth of tyres and keeping the cash for himself.

Antony Prosser, of Kingsway, College Estate, Hereford, was manager of Ski Tyres when he carried out the fraud between September 2010 and November 2012, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The 48-year-old discovered a way to hide an order of tyres in the firm’s computer system and when they arrived he would sell them cheaply for cash, Andrew Wilkins, prosecuting, told the court.

The tyres would have cost £36,000 if sold through the proper channels and when the fiddle was uncovered in January, 2013, Prosser said he had “messed up”and he would be leaving.

He later blamed others for the mistake and denied the offence until the day a trial was due to start in February this year, Mr Wilkins said.

Sarah Morgan, defending, said Prosser was of previous good character and had just used the money to support himself and his wife and young family. Working as a manager had put him under pressure. He was now in debt and suffering from depression.

Judge Michael Cullum said he accepted Prosser was a family man who had not used the cash for outlandish living but he had worked for the firm for many years before becoming manager and had abused the position of trust.

It was, he said, a “sophisticated” crime because Prosser had figured out a way to sell the tyres for cash as if they were being sold legitimately.

Prosser pleaded guilty to one charge of fraud and was jailed for 21 months.