A BARMAN who disappeared with the pub's takings narrowly escaped a jail sentence when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates told Barry Gillingwater they had considered sending him to prison. But after hearing he was suffering from mental health problems he was put on probation for two years and ordered to complete 50 hours' community service. Gillingwater, 45, who is currently living at a psychiatric unit in London, was also ordered to pay back the £2,400 he stole from the Bell pub, in Belfast Street, Hove, last October. The court heard Gillingwater and his wife were running the pub while the owners were on holiday in Spain when he disappeared one lunchtime after saying he was going to the bank. He went to Scotland but later gave himself up to police. He admitted a charge of theft when he appeared in court. Myles Jackson, defending, said Gillingwater, a father of two, had acted impulsively after failing to cope with mental health problems, depression and marriage difficulties.

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