A Coulsdon market trader who raided fruit from neighbouring greengrocers has been spared jail.

Matthew Watson, 35, was caught in an elaborate sting after a suspicious amount of fruit and veg went missing from warehouses at London's New Covent Garden vegetable market.

Watson's 18-month scam was uncovered after the owners of neighbouring stall P&I Fruits became suspicious about their vanishing vegetables and set up a CCTV camera inside their shop.

Watson, of Coulsdon Road, was caught on film helping himself to boxes of fruit.

Further investigation revealed that Watson had also been ransacking nearby Roger Thomas Fruit.

The companies said they had lost £30,000 worth of fruit, but due to the lack of proof, the Crown accepted a reduced loss of £3,000.

Watson would arrive at work a couple of hours ahead of his normal morning start time, would take a trolley into the warehouses and helped himself to fruit and veg, Blackfriars Crown Court heard.

He would then sell the fruit from his employers R Tealing Ltd, before the firm opened for business - and pocketed the cash.

Watson, a father of four, is now living on benefits.

He was told by Judge Timothy Pontius: "What you did was a gross breach of trust; the trust that employees will behave honestly."

But he added that, because the amount stolen was now just £3,000, it meant he did not have to go to jail.

He told Watson, I imagine you now realise the seriousness of what you did.'

The judge sentenced Watson to 100 hours' community punishment and probation for 12 months.

He had admitted two counts of burgling P & I Fruits and one count against Roger Thomas Fruits. He asked for 25 other offences to be taken into consideration.