A POLICE car fleet manager who stole a CID car and gave it to his wife has avoided a jail sentence.

Stirling Sheriff Court was told the four-year-old unmarked Peugeot 307, which was valued at £3600 and used by Central Scotland Police, had become unreliable and should have been sent to auction.

But Alexander Gray, 39, had it dealer-serviced and repaired and re-registered in the name of wife Anne.

Gray, of Baxter Street, Fallin, Stirlingshire, appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court and admitted stealing the Peugeot and also embezzling £1200 obtained for another police car, a Ford Focus.

The father of two was sentenced to 240 hours' community service.