A TEENAGER who fraudulently transferred more than £1,600 from his employer's bank account to his own narrowly avoided a custodial prison sentence.

Zak Gallagher, aged 18, of Bank Street, Walshaw, Bury, stole funds from Accounts and Admin Ltd, in Radcliffe, where he had been employed as a trainee.

At Rochdale magistrates on Monday, Gallagher was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 12 months and a community punishment order for 100 hours, a three-month curfew and an order to pay £70 court costs and agreed to pay outstanding compensation.

When his employment was terminated, a check was made on the internet with the company's bank account, and it was discovered that money had been transferred to Gallagher's bank account. He was arrested and charged with theft.

Now a student at Bury College and part-time night club worker, Gallagher also admitted to a public disorder offence after refusing to leave Leopold Court hostel in Rochdale, and resisting a police officer who had asked him to leave the premises.