A DISHONEST South Lakeland uncle who plundered his niece's £70,000 inheritance has been spared immediate prison.

Carlisle Crown Court heard 58-year-old Gary John Young was appointed joint administrator for the estate of his late sister - and mother of the eventual victim.

This was to be passed on to his niece - then aged 11 and now an adult - once she turned 18.

Having assumed effective control of her cash, Young promised to hand over sizeable chunks upon her 16th, 18th and 21st birthdays.

But suspicions grew when the agreed sums did not arrive.

And after an investigation was launched it was discovered Young had taken around £50,000, between 2008 and 2015, to which he was not entitled.

He admitted a charge of fraud by an abuse of position, and was sentenced today (FRI) by Judge Barbara Forrester.

After hearing about Young's remorse and his "fragile mental health", Judge Forrester concluded that an immediate prison sentence would have "no benefit to the community".

As a result, a two-year prison term was suspended for two years.

In addition Young, of Dowker Lane, Kendal, was ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work, given a rehabilitation requirement and handed a six-month night-time curfew.