A SELF-EMPLOYED roofing contractor who yesterday admitted stealing hundreds of pounds from a carer and his disabled father was today due to start a new job – at a roofing company.

Anthony Chetwynd was handed a suspended jail term after stealing £720 from full-time carer Stephen Austin and his 85-year-old dad Edwin.

His victims have now said they are happy that justice has been done.

Mr Austin, aged 54, told The Sentinel: "This has all had a terrible effect on my father. He does not want to answer the door any more."

Chetwynd agreed a £900 fee to repair fascia boards and guttering on the Austins' home in Hamlett Place, Norton.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that, after taking a £180 cash deposit, the 41-year-old carried out work on May 29 before persuading the older Mr Austin to pay the balance of £720 by cheque the same day.

Prosecutor Steven Redmond said the younger Mr Austin, who examined the work and was dissatisfied, unsuccessfully tried to stop the cheque clearing.

The Austins were unaware the money was in the defendant's bank account when Chetwynd returned to carry out more work on June 1 and paid the £720 balance in cash. The defendant did not inform them he already had the balance.

Mr Redmond said: "Mr Austin was unsuccessful in persuading him to make the repayment and went to the police. The defendant denied ever receiving £720 cash."

Chetwynd, of Mitchell Street, Burslem, maintained he did not receive the cash throughout criminal proceedings, before pleading guilty to theft last month on the day of his trial.

Speaking after the hearing, Stephen Austin said: "I am diabetic and get vertigo, otherwise I would have done it myself, as I was in the building trade for 35 years. It was a lot of money for me as I am only on carer's allowance and income support. It has been nearly 12 months and I have managed to scrape the money back together again. I was not particularly bothered whether he got a jail term or whatever, as long as there was some sort of justice."

Joanne Wallbanks, defending Chetwynd, said: "The way he behaved with the Austins was a stupid way to conduct his business. When self-employed, keeping customers happy is the main way to get future work. It has had a detrimental effect on his business, but he has satisfied a number of customers to a high standard."

She added Chetwynd was keen to make reparation to Mr Austin.

The court heard the defendant, who had a previous conviction for stealing from his employer in 2003, was due to start work today for a roofing company.

Chetwynd was sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for two years, with 12 months' supervision, a requirement to attend the thinking skills programme and 120 hours' unpaid work. He must also pay £720 compensation and £2,800 costs.