A MAN who helped steal thousands of pounds of Yorkshire Stone from properties in Skipton to 'settle a debt' has been given a community sentence.

Matthew James Alltree, 28, took flags and coping stones from houses in Salisbury Street, Raikes Road, Tarn Moor Crescent and Gainsborough Court over two days in August, heard Skipton Magistrates' Court.

Alltree, the court was told, refused to give the name of his accomplice because he was frightened of what would happen to him and had helped out because he had owed £400.

He admitted five counts of theft - two on August 1 and three on August 3 - and will have to complete 60 hours unpaid work and pay £100 compensation to each of his victims, with magistrates believing full cost of replacing the stone would be covered by insurance claims.

Alltree, a man of previous good character, was traced to his then home in Accrington, Lancashire after one of several witnesses took a note of his van's registration number, the court heard.

Witnesses reported to the police seeing a panel van and hearing loud bangs as stone was dropped into a vehicle.

Prosecuting, Martin Butterworth, said the men took both coping stones and flags ranging from five to 16 per house, with estimated cost of repair put at up to more than a thousand per property.

Police questioned Alltree at his then home, when he admitted stealing the stone and taking it back to the Accrington area.

In mitigation, Colleen Dickenson Jones said Alltree was in fear of the other man and had been warned what would happen to him if had not helped out.

He had not liked what he had done, but had been warned what would happen if he had not gone along in lieu of a £400 debt.

"He maintains he did not know what the plans were. He turned up with his van and assisted the man who he owed money too. He has been threatened by certain individuals that if he did not go and work off his debt, he knew what would happen to him."

Ms Dickenson Jones added turmoil had been suffered by the owners of the property, but that Alltree had no idea where the stone had ended up.

He was now living in Birmingham and was working as a van driver.

"He is fully remorseful, he felt bad about what he did that day, but felt he did not have a choice," she said.

Alltree was told by magistrates his sentence would have been much harsher, had he not pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity.

Had he been found guilty after trial, he could have been sent to prison, his van could have been confiscated and a 12 month driving ban imposed.

In addition to his community sentence and £500 compensation, Alltree, now of Gospel Farm Road, Birmingham, will have to pay £85 costs and £85 surcharge.