A fraudster who ran charity race nights but pocketed the money himself has walked free from court.

Gary Ferris, 38, from Ashford admitted taking a total of £8,210. But a judge at canterbury Crown Court handed him a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

He appeared for sentence having admitted 15 fraud charges committed between October 2007 and April 2008.

The race nights took place at pubs not only in Kent but also in counties such as Essex, Surrey and Norfolk and the money was intended for the Essex-based charity Hopes and Dreams which provided trips and holidays for terminally ill children.

Ferris, 38, of Sweet Bay Crescent ran race nights at the Gillingham Marina Club in April 2008 when he took £604 and at the Black Horse at Bean the following night when he made £568.

His lawyer, Dominic Webber, said Ferris had a serious gambling problem at the time. Judge Nigel van der Bijl told Ferris the offences were serious because they involved a charity.

Det Insp Mark Fairhurst said: "Gary Ferris used money he had raised for charity to fund his gambling habits.

Audio: Det Insp Mark Fairhurst speaking after sentencing

"He took advantage of people wanting to donate money to help ill children and in doing so undermined the reputation of the Hopes and Dreams charity.

"His actions have caused distress to those who offered their premises in good faith and attended the events."

He must do 180 hours unpaid work.

The court will hold confiscation proceedings to see how much money can be recovered from Ferris later in the year.