AN odd job man went on a four-figure spending spree using a corporate card without permission, a court heard.

Darryl Dempsey, of Sapling Road, Morris Green, made purchases at trade stores and builders merchants in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and Blackpool, Lancashire, last year despite not having the authority to use a company account.

He bought £296 worth of drills and unspecified goods worth £90 in separate transactions at different shops in Blackpool on May 28.

He then spent two lots of £94 on timber and £594 on power tools on June 1 in the same town with a corporate account card belonging to Southern Builders and Property Maintenance, of Pevensey, East Sussex.

Bolton Magistrates' Court heard it had been more than a year since Dempsey had done any work for the company.

Prosecutor Steve Woodman said: "He said he bought the items for jobs.

"On June 2 2015 at Jewsons in Bolton he tried to buy goods to the value of £50.

"The store manager had some suspicions and rang the company down south and he was told they knew that somebody was using their company account fraudulently.

"Mr Dempsey left the scene very quickly. He was subsequently traced by police and arrested."

Mr Woodman said the director of the Southern Builders and Property Maintenance confirmed Dempsey had never been employed as a member of staff and that the business had not had contact with him for more than a year at the time the offences were carried out.

He said the company only operated in southern England and had no work in Blackpool or Huddersfield areas for which legitimate purchases would need to be made.

Martin Pizzey, defending Dempsey, said: "He still maintains the point, or genuinely believes, he had permission.

"He was very precise and particular as to who had asked him to go."

Dempsey has autism and Asperger's syndrome and had carried out odds jobs such as delivering, transport and mechanical work for Southern Builders and Property Maintenance, the court heard.

Mr Pizzey added: "He's capable of doing quite a considerate amount of skilled work."

Dempsey was found guilty of fraud by false representation and one of attempted fraud by false representation at an earlier hearing.

Magistrates sentenced the 21-year-oldto a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

He must pay £4,183.99 compensation to Southern Builders and Property Maintenance and court costs of £650.