AN employee who told his bosses he was gaining qualifications at university to justify his growing salary appeared in court yesterday.

For seven years, 33-year-old Shaun Percival told his employers at Armour Plastics on the Pennywell Industrial Estate, Sunderland, he was passing exams, which enabled him to work in the company accounts department.

He even forged a letter from Northumbria University to back up his claims, but in reality had sat no such exams.

Newcastle Crown Court was told that when he decided he could not cope with the deception any longer and applied for new jobs using his actual qualifications, his boss caught sight of his CV and an investigation was launched.

As well as the deception it was revealed that Percival had directed £502 intended for the Inland Revenue into his own account in May 2001.

Percival, of Premier Road, Sunderland, admitted obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception, forgery and obtaining money by deception.

Paul Cross, defending, said: "He was trying to get out of the situation he had got into."

The court was told how Percival left the company in 2002 and had since found work as an accountancy technician for another company.

Mr Cross said: "Ironically, he is now being paid more."

Judge Beatrice Bolton said despite totally misleading his employers, Percival was carrying out his employment properly.

Judge Bolton said the more serious aspect of the case was the gross breach of trust in taking the £502 for himself.

Percival was sentenced to 200 hours community punishment, ordered to pay £502 compensation and £300 costs.