HMV man blew stolen #6,000

An HMV store manager spent six weeks on the run after robbing his own store of more than #6,000 and then blew his haul on hotels and travel.

Stuart Duck, aged 29, pocketed the cash from HMV Aberdeen in June and took off for London where he ended up living as a tramp.

Duck avoided a stretch inside after Aberdeen's Sheriff David Kilbie accepted that the dad of two had been suffering from extreme work pressure.

"Employers have a duty to consider the effect of long hours," said the Sheriff, after sentencing Duck to a total of 200 hours' community service earlier this month.

First-time offender Duck told the court he was driven over the edge by excessive work hours, low pay and poor relations with his boss. Duck's parents-in-law offered to pay HMV the u6,103 in full using savings and a loan.

Wife Heather, now reunited with her husband, believed Duck had done a runner so he could follow Scotland in Euro 96 and begged him, through the press, to return for his three-year-old daughter Joanna's birthday.

HMV issued the following statement: "While we certainly do not accept Mr. Duck's justification for his actions we would therefore not wish to add further comments other than to emphasize that our main concern throughout this situation has been Stuart's well-being and that we are pleased he has returned home safely to his family."