A BROTHER and sister were left facing a miserable Christmas when their neighbour sold all their presents which had been left with him for safe-keeping.

Keith Dowley offered to look after Christmas presents bought by his hard-up neighbour, Beverley Gray, so her children would not find them until Christmas morning.

The 25-year-old was so grateful for Dowley's help, she even invited him for Christmas dinner.

But when she went to collect them on Christmas Eve, he claimed he had accidentally thrown them in the bin.

Jemma, five, and Andrew, six, had a miserable Christmas with hardly any presents, while Dowley, 25, spent the profits from selling their gifts.

He was arrested on Christmas Day and spent the day in the cells.

Yesterday, Dowley, of Percy Main, North Tyneside, was put on 18 months probation by North Tyneside magistrates and ordered to pay £140 costs after he admitted theft and two unrelated charges of shoplifting.

The single mother had scrimped and saved so her youngsters could have a great Christmas, buying one present a week for six months.

Beverley said: "It totally ruined our Christmas. There were loads of presents.

"The were Barbie dolls, watches, teddy bear back packs and loads of toys.

"Jemma was in tears when I told her what had happened. It was awful.

"I am on my own, so I had to buy my kids' presents out of my dole money."

Social workers with North Tyneside Council were so touched by the children's plight that they clubbed together to buy them gifts.

Beverley said: 'We were so grateful for their help".