A thief who stole two charity boxes from a Chessington pub has been spared jail.

Anthony Richards, 28, from Longmead Road, Thames Ditton, admitted stealing two charity boxes belonging to Shooting Star Chase – an Addlestone hospice for children and teenagers with life-limiting conditions – and Cancer Research from the North Star pub in January.

The Cancer Research collection box was placed in the Hook Road pub by Julie Weinard, who had worked there for nearly 20 years before leaving when she was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago. Ms Weinard died before Christmas 2015, pub staff said.

It is not known how much cash was in the charity boxes.

From January: CCTV image of man police think stole Cancer Research charity box from Chessington's North Star pub

Kingston police appealed for witnesses to come forward in January.

Richards was arrested after CCTV images were released by Kingston police, and were shared more than 1,000 times on Facebook.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and possession of cannabis at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, July 22.

Richards was handed an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £85 plus an £80 surcharge, which were deducted from his benefits.