A POLICE chief who swindled thousands of pounds from two community organisations has avoided jail.

Superintendent Andrew Carr, 47, who served with Wiltshire Police, abused his role as treasurer for a school Parent Teacher Association and a local Scout group but walked away today with a 12-month suspended sentence.

The senior policeman stole £14,000 from two organisations - £7,259 from Orchid Vale Primary School PTA in Swindon and £6,742 from the 7th Swindon Scouts - over the course of 18 months.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard the majority of the money was taken from fundraising events such as Christmas and Halloween parties, which Carr would rush out with before it had been counted saying he would do it himself.

He forged signatures to cash cheques and got people to sign blank cheques which he then filled in and would take money from one group to repay the other.

Carr also falsified a scrutineer's report to the Scouts' committee and an independent examiner's report to the trustees of the group executive in a bid to cover his tracks.

He had been treasure of the Scout group since 2008 and of the PTA since 2007 but suspicions were raised in September last year and a police investigation began.

Carr, who has worked for Wiltshire Police since 2004 and was placed on a 'high potential development scheme', was initially suspended after being charged with fraud but has since been sacked.

He pleaded guilty to 11 offences relating to matters of fraud by abuse of position, forgery and false accounting.

Prosecuting, Joe Templeton said: "The innocent people who played no part in what he was doing could very well have become implicated in criminal offences.

"They were members of the community who volunteered to help and he abused the trust that they and everybody else put into him.

"Not only did he risk his own reputation but he risked that of innocent people too."

Defending him, Guy Gozem QC said Carr had struggled financially since 2011 by overspending and was in a fragile mental state after the death of his brother in 2013 but had paid back all the money.

Mr Gozem said Carr had joined the police in 2004 after working in the hotel industry and was "one of those individuals regarded suitable for the higher potential development scheme" but had now lost his career and was reduced to taking anti-depressants.

He added: "This man is on a cocktail of drugs that are maintaining his mood. He has been on the verge of taking his own life on two occasions.

"I do not seek on his behalf to excuse the inexcusable. This is an extremely difficult case and he knows he has let everybody down and through me he apologises to all those that he has hurt and let down.

"It is perhaps no consolation to them but no one has lost more than him by what he has admitted. He is at a loss to explain himself."

Judge Brian Forster said: "What stands out in this case is that everyone has been bewildered by what you have done. On the face of it you were an energetic man who was an asset to the community.

"You've betrayed the trust of your family, your community and your friends.

"You worked as a superintendent so the need for honesty was required every day.

"You covered up what you were doing and you told lies about how much money was going in and out of these accounts."

"I have considered both the public interest and your personal situation and have decided to suspend the sentence.

"I have come to the conclusion that it is in the public interest and your own interest in doing so. Anyone looking at this case must immediately ask the question 'why?'"

Carr was sentenced 12 months in prison suspended for two years.

Carr, of Thursday Street, was also ordered to attend 30 rehabilitation requirement days, pay £500 prosecution costs and £100 victim surcharge.

A Swindon resident whose grandchildren attend Orchid Vale Primary School said after the hearing: "Carr used his uniform to weasel his way in to a position of power.

"Then he stole thousands of pounds from helpless children.

"There are a lot of people who have been waiting for this day to come."

Assistant Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “Sentencing is a matter for the court and I wouldn’t wish to pass comment on that. Andrew Carr has caused upset to his victims and has betrayed the trust of his work colleagues, those at the Orchid Vale School DOVE Parent Teacher Association and those at the 7th Swindon Scouts.

“We held a Special Case misconduct meeting in May and dismissed Andrew Carr from the Force with immediate effect.

"I can only express my disappointment that his behaviour fell below what is expected of any member of Wiltshire Police. The Code of Ethics is clear and any officer or member of staff who fails to meet those standards will face disciplinary action and, in cases such as this, criminal proceedings.

“This is a very stark reminder of the important role that police officers and staff have within our society in relation to the requirement to demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour and integrity at all times, on and off duty.

“The majority of our officers and staff demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour, uphold the law and are very proud to work for Wiltshire Police.”

Orchid Vale Primary School and its parent teacher association issued a joint statement following the verdict.

“This has been a difficult year for both the PTA and the school and we are pleased that the situation has finally been resolved and we can look forward to the next academic year," they said.

“We would like to thank all the staff, parents and PTA for their support over the last year.”

A spokesman from the Scouting Association added: We are pleased that he has pleaded guilty to his crimes and has been punished.

“Monies that the police have been able to identify as taken from Scouting have now been returned.”