A MAN falsified work time sheets earning him more than £2,300, Droitwich magistrates were told.

John Steade admitted three offences of false accounting and asked for another 10 to be taken into consideration.

Abi Nixon, prosecuting, described how the 27-year-old had signed on for work with Premiere People at the start of 2001 and had carried out work for a company called Southco.

She said he regularly gave timesheets to the agency, which had been signed under the name of T Norton.

"However, the agency checked with the company and found that he had been asked to leave many weeks earlier," said Miss Nixon.

She said he was interviewed by police and admitted the forgery.

"He said he was very sorry about what he had done," Ms Nixon added.

Barry Newton, defending, said drugs had affected Steade, of Penhill Crescent, St John's, Worcester, at the time and his client was not thinking straight.

"He's no longer on heroin and is prescribed meth-adone," he said.

"He's on a course and doing very well and holding down a responsible job with a company.

"He's on the mend from the horrors of addiction and it would be tragic if this good work was undone."

Steade was sentenced to a community punishment order of 150 hours, ordered to pay back £2,348.48 to the company, and told to pay £118 court costs.