War affected ex-soldier spared jail

A former soldier who stole more than £13,000 from a hotel where he was the manager has been spared jail because he was affected by the Kosovo war.

A judge said Peter Osborne had committed the crimes because he had temporarily "lost his moral compass" after witnessing atrocities in Kosovo.

Hove Crown Court heard how the 24-year-old took money from the safe at the Mansion Hotel in Eastbourne over a period of a month in August and September 2002.

He stole the cash to pay back debts that had mounted up since he left the armed forces, the court heard.

'Exemplary' soldier

Following his arrest the police also found he had ordered outdoor equipment worth £7,000 under the name of Captain Peter Osborne and said it was for the army but had never paid for the goods.

But the court heard that Osborne had been an "exemplary" soldier until he was sent on a tour of duty in Kosovo as part of a peace keeping force.

His experiences left him with depression and he was discharged from the army and left to try to find a new career.

Osborne, who is now working at a hotel in Winchester but does not handle money, admitted theft from an employer and obtaining property by deception.

Sparing him a prison sentence, Judge Anthony Niblett ordered he serve an 100 hour community punishment order and an 18 month community rehabilitation order.

He was also told to pay compensation to the owners of the hotel to cover the money he stole.