A sub-postmaster jailed for six months for fraud claimed he had accidentally thrown the missing £12,000 in a dustbin.

Tileshkumar Patel, 44, who ran the Station Parade sub post office in Sanderstead, pleaded guilty to five charges of false accounting last Thursday and was sentenced to six months in prison.

Croydon Crown Court heard that the dad-of-two had debts amounting to £117,000.

Prosecutor Henry Mainwaring said auditors found a £11,618 shortfall in the post office's accounts.

Patel was interviewed by Post Office investigators on April 13.

Mr Mainwaring said: "He said a collection of £12,000 had been put in the safe but when he went to get it, it was not there.

"He thought he must have thrown it away with the rubbish, and he added the amount in figures to ensure that he showed a clear balance.

He said he had intended to put the money back."

The court was told Patel ran the post office on his own, but had part-time help in the shop incorporated with it.

Anya Lewis, defending, said: "He went to the safe and when he realised the money was not there he panicked. As the sub-postmaster, he was responsible for all losses, although he had no one else working for him.

"With the closure of many post offices he would have got £72,000 compensation if his had been chosen, but he has now lost the possibility of that.

"A man of good character, he made a very grave error."

When the official inquiries were under way, Patel volunteered extra information, which indicated that the total loss was more than had been estimated.

High Court proceedings regarding his £117,000 debts are now under way.

Recorder Peddie told Patel, of Greenock Road, Streatham Vale: "This was a repeated course of conduct over several months. As the manager, you owed a duty of trust to the post office and you have acknowledged that in your interview.

"You claimed that money had gone missing and you have no knowledge of where it has gone, except that it was thrown away.

"You are not charged with theft and there is no evidence that you had use of the money, but no better explanation has been given.

"You concealed the loss because you were fearful of reporting it and afraid you would lose the potential compensation to be paid if chosen for closure."