A businessman has forgiven his son for stealing £12,000 from his company.

Lorry driver Liam Coatman, 20, of Annandale, Darlington, forged his father's signature on six £2,000 cheques.

He admitted the theft when he appeared at Durham Crown Court, on Friday, where he was ordered to repay the cash and had three months added to a suspended sentence he received earlier this year for the part he played in a vehicle theft.

Liam, who has revealed how he lived the high life with cash, was arrested at Manchester airport when he returned from a holiday in Thailand.

But at the weekend, his father, Robert, whose business R & C Reclamation is based in Peterlee, said: "I have forgiven him. He is my son. What else can I do?''

Mr Coatman added: "His head went to bits, he got into drugs, but it was a blip.

"He took the money to pay his debts off and went to Thailand with the rest."

He said: "He's my best mate as well as my son, but he could not organise the proverbial in a brewery."

Liam was already in Thailand when his father realised the money was missing.

"He is that dumb that he put the money in his own bank account."

Liam, who said he feels lucky his father is even talking to him, said at the airport on his way to Thailand he met Manchester United and England footballer Wayne Rooney and his girlfriend, Coleen McLoughlin

He said: "I went over to Wayne, put my arm around his waist like he was my best mate.

"We got on, had a bit of craic and then he invited me down to Manchester for a few drinks sometime.

"I gave him my phone number, but I don't know if he ever tried to ring me because the phone was confiscated by the police by the time I got back."

He said while he was spending his father's money he "didn't give a damn". "I saw loads of women, lived the life," he said. "It was unreal, brilliant, but I have learned my lesson."