A HOOK man, accused of stealing more than £223,000 from a local garage, has been jailed for 30 months.

Kristoffer Brick, of New Road, had faced 15 charges of theft by an employee, relating to money allegedly stolen from Sardis-based Gareth Hughes Motors, between December 2006 and April 2016.

The claimed amounts of money stolen range from £381.99 to £213,290.72.

The 39-year-old appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on March 27, with no plea entered, the court entering a not guilty plea to all the charges on his behalf.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, and Brick appeared at Swansea crown court on April 27, where he pleaded guilty to one charge of theft covering the period November 2006-April 2016.

That plea was made by the defence on the basis the amount stolen was £80,000-£90,000.

That amount was not accepted by the prosecution.

A later hearing on August 6 saw that basis of plea maintained, and it was agreed to proceed to sentencing on that amount.

Brick was jailed for 30 months on Monday, August 6, with a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing expected to take place on October 19.

The POCA hearing could see the agreed amount of money in the charge recovered.