AN 18-year-old has been ordered to pay compensation after stealing hundreds of pounds from Darlington Football Club.

Andrew Brigham, from Barnes Road, Darlington, used to work in the ticket office at the club's Williamson Motors Stadium.

The teenager was also in charge of ticket refunds.

At Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday, he admitted pocketing the money from refunds for himself during a six-month period, from October last year to March this year.

The court ordered him to pay back the £400 he stole.

He was also given a community punishment order, which will include 60 hours of unpaid work, and must pay £55 in court costs.

The case came to light when his manager discovered the ticket sales records did not tally up.

Brigham was initially arrested with another man, but he admitted the charges and the other man was released.

Brigham was given credit for his early guilty plea and full admissions to the police officers who interviewed him.

Chairman of the bench Duncan Callum said: "I have to remind you how serious an offence this was. A court would be justified in sending you to prison. However, you have been given credit for your guilty plea and because we believe it is unlikely this will happen again."