A ST John Ambulance Brigade official stole more than £6,000 from the organisation to buy fuel for the expensive car he drove in his chauffeuring job, a court heard this week.

But a judge decided not to send Michael Stockton to jail, so that he could repay “every penny” he took.

“It was a mean and despicable thing to do to an organisation rendering the special service it does to people not only in this country, but throughout the world,” said Judge Andrew Patience, QC.

Stockton, of Sweyne Road, Swanscombe, near Dartford, was ordered to complete 240 hours unpaid work and repay the stolen money within a year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the 51-year-old worked for the charity which relies on donations, for a number of years, and was commander for Swanscombe and Greenhithe division.

Catherine Donnelly, prosecuting, said credit cards used to pay for fuel for ambulances, were carefully monitored.

In June 2003, it was drawn to the attention of the hierarchy that a card had been used out of Kent, when the ambulance was in the county.

Suspicion fell on Stockton, but there was insufficient evidence to charge him.

Miss Donnelly said an investigation carried out by a retired police officer discovered that the card had been misused 189 times with a total loss of £6,058.

When Stockton, who had been issued with two cards, was questioned about it, he said: “It proves I can’t trust people I work with.”

Miss Donnelly said one of the cards was used 100 times to buy diesel while the ambulance was off the road for 10 weeks following an accident.

The card was used 71 times in London, where Stockton was working as a private chauffeur, paying £750 a month to hire the Mercedes he drove.

The use of the card was linked to Stockton driving passengers around the city and to airports, said the prosecutor.

Stockton eventually made full admissions. “He said he was sorry and felt he had been a prat,” said Miss Donnelly.

She told the judge: “You will be aware that St John Ambulance works on voluntary donations and is a charitable trust.”