A TREASURER who stole almost £12,000 from church funds to try to buy the love of her cheating husband was spared jail today.

Trusted Deborah Stanger was given blank cheques by the vicar to pay church bills, but she made them out to herself.

The 44-year-old, of Glynfellis, Felling, Gateshead, ran up debts trying to keep her husband happy after he had an affair and she forgave him.

They bought a £15,000 car, secured against their home, and when there was a risk of losing their home, she began to steal from Christ Church, Felling, where she had been treasurer for two years.

She took a total of £11,845 by writing out 15 cheques to herself.

Judge Michael Cartledge, at Newcastle Crown Court, told her: "I think the disgrace of being here in court is a major punishment."

He ordered she must complete a 12 month community order.

A hearing for the church to claw back its losses will be held later.

James Atkin, defending, said: "It was a pretty crude enterprise and it was absolutely inevitable that she would be discovered."

He said she had lost her job as a secretary as a result of the court case.

She was immensely remorseful, he said, and had been forgiven by her church and she intended to pay back all the money.

Stanger pleaded guilty to one count of fraud at Gateshead Magistrates Court last month.

At that hearing, her solicitor Paul Hanratty said: "Her husband had an affair, she was worried that her marriage was going to be wrecked, she forgave him, they were reconciled and the marriage continued.

"The effect of the affair was that she changed. She would do her utmost to please her husband, to keep him happy."