On Wednesday magistrates at Bingley heard how Brian Charles Benford, Michael Scott Denton and Terence Walter Flower had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to stealing truck and car tyres from the Unity Tyre Company Ltd where they all worked.

All three had been warned that magistrates were considering a custodial sentence. But instead they were given community service orders and were ordered to pay compensation and costs after bench chairman Donald Appleyard told them: "Don't think you have got off lightly - you were very close to going to prison."

Benford, 47, of Woodhouse Grove, Keighley, had pleaded guilty to stealing six car tyres, which were later recovered, and ten truck tyres belonging to the company, which is based at Walk Mills in Coney Lane, Keighley.

Denton, 23, of Calver Avenue, Keighley, and Flower, of Sycamore View, Fell Lane, Keighley, pleaded guilty to a charge that between January last year and July this year they stole 60 car tyres and ten truck tyres from the same company. Both also pleaded guilty to the attempted theft of a further 30 car tyres between July 4 and 11 this year.

The thefts came to light after a warehouse manager noticed an invoice for a container load of tyres from Taiwan had been changed. All three were later suspended and eventually sacked after they admitted the thefts when questioned by police.

Elizabeth Wright, defending Denton and Flower, told the court both were intelligent men. "They both know that they have let down badly themselves and their families," she said. "It is very sad for both of them."

She said Flower had already made an offer of compensation to the company. "He wanted to set right what he had done wrong," she said. "They made little financial gain and they have now learned that crime does not pay."

Defending Benford, Fiona Callow said he had never been in any trouble before and that he had taken it upon himself to take the truck tyres. "His financial situation made him very susceptible," she said. "He too has let everyone down."

Before sentencing Mr Apple-yard told them the bench had considered a custodial sentence. He said: "Stealing from your employer is a very serious matter."

He added that the bench had taken into account their guilty plea and the early offer of compensation.

All three were ordered to do 180 hours of community service. Benford was ordered to pay £1,084.72 compensation and £40 costs. Denton and Flower were each ordered to pay £565.50 compensation and £40 costs.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.