A heavy goods vehicle driver stole £12,000 from his father's business before going on holiday to Thailand.

Liam Coatman, 20, forged the signature of his father, Robert Edward, on six £2,000 cheques, which he made out to himself over a six-week period.

He was out of the country when the offences came to light and was arrested on his return.

Durham Crown Court heard that Mr Coatman senior received a bank statement for the business, R & C Reclamation, in Peterlee, showing its funds were much lower than anticipated.

On investigation, he discovered the cause of the shortfall was the six £2,000 cheques, taken from the business account.

The bank informed him the cheques, taken between last July 13 and August 25, were made payable to Liam Coatman.

Mr Coatman found the cheque book in the company safe with six cheques removed, but with no entry on the stubs.

Jane Mitford, prosecuting, said only his son and ex-wife had access to the safe. When he was arrested, at Manchester Airport, Coatman made full admissions.

Due to his involvement with the company, he knew where the cheque books were kept, taking them from his father's drawer.

He had made the cheques payable to himself and forged the signature, before cashing them at a bank in Peterlee.

Miss Mitford said the bank has stood the loss, crediting the company account for the £12,000.

Coatman, 20, of Annandale, Darlington, admitted theft.

The court was told he received a five-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, in March, for vehicle theft.

Roger Moore, for Coatman, said he "went to pieces" last year, getting into trouble at a time when his parents were separating.

Mr Moore said Coatman also ran up debts after developing a cocaine habit.

"He's now found work as a plant operator, driving excavators for a subsidiary of his father's company.

"He's made his peace with his father and, if he behaves himself, he will be taken back into the firm."

Judge Richard Lowden told Coatman: "You've gone off the rails over the course of the past year, and this was an outrageous way to behave.

"It was unsophisticated and you were bound to get caught."

He added a further three months to Coatman's existing suspended sentence and ordered him to repay the £12,000 to the bank.