A Travel Lodge manager who stole almost £5,000 in fake refunds for guests has walked free from court.

Martin Dyer, 39, used the names of real customers to claim back booking fees and compensation in what the judge called a "sophisticated" fraud.

But the faults he reported to pocket refunds through his own bank accounts were "a pack of lies", Lewes Crown Court was told.

He was finally caught when the hotel's bank brought in a new refund system and spotted a suspicious payment made last summer.

Prosecutor Michael Warren said the Hellingly manager had regularly transferred £100 and £200 a time to his own account but left a trail of paperwork that made it look like a refund to the person who had booked a room.

Mr Dyer also pretended to be a real customer called Mr Andrews and complained about room issues and phone problems.

He also made out he was a Mr Hunter who reported no hot water for his family who were jetting off on a long-haul flight from Gatwick.

Mr Warren added: "All of these are, of course, a pack of lies. The customers are correct but they would have stayed and paid in the normal way."

Dyer, now of Alnhan Court, Newcastle, admitted 12 counts of theft between October, 2007, and July, 2008.

He also asked for 49 similar offences between August, 2007 and July, 2008, to be taken into account. In total, he stole £4,975.

In interview Dyer admitted all transactions had been completed by him and no-one else had access to his cards which had never been reported lost or stolen.

He told police he was a £19,500-a-year manager at the Boship Roundabout hotel working "long hours for little reward".

The court was told Dyer has now landed another job in the hotel and restaurant industry in Newcastle.

Judge Anthony Scott-Gall gave Dyer a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered him to do 150 hours' unpaid work.

He said: "You were in a position of trust and this was a sophisticated system you were operating in which you stole from your employers.

"The offence crosses the custody threshold but it would be un-necessary and un-warranted to deprive you of your liberty.”

Dyer was also ordered to pay back Travel Lodge £4,975 in compensation within three months.