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A rail worker in charge of prosecuting fare dodgers has admitted pocketing thousands of pounds from train fee evaders.

Ian Evered, 44, could face jail after admitting he stole two cheques to the value of ^2,096.68, another worth ^44.75 and cash worth ^35 while working as a prosecutions manager for First Great Western based at Reading Station.

The offences took place between August 18, 2006, and May 1, 2008.

Evered was responsible for the team that prosecutes those who jump trains but admitted at Reading Magistrates^ Court on Monday to stealing fines and costs collected by court and sent to First Great Western.

Evered ^ who had worked for the company since June 1999 and was a senior manager ^ was found out after an investigation was launched when the cheques went missing.

Police checked his accounts and discovered he had paid the money to himself after stamping his name over the payline.

Fare evaders can avoid going to court by paying the money they should have paid for the tickets and the court heard on one occasion Evered had forced one case to be dismissed by claiming First Great Western had the wrong address for an offender and pocketed the money for himself instead.

Michael Phillips, defending, said the offences were ^completely out of character^ for Evered who was suffering from the breakdown of his marriage, depression and tackling gambling addiction.

Mr Phillips said: ^He has suffered a great deal as a result of these offences. He^s lost his job and he^s living by himself in a bedsit. He^s now in a very different position and ultimately has himself to blame.^

Chair of the bench Cynthia Newman said Evered, of Horatio Avenue, Warfield, could go to prison when he returns to Reading Magistrates^ Court for sentencing on Monday, June 29.

She said: ^We take into consideration the long course of offending and your senior position. It was a very well thought-out action. However you are of previous good character.^

He has been released on unconditional bail.

Crooked train boss Ian Evered avoids jail

A Warfield train boss who pocketed thousands of pounds of fare dodgers^ cash vowed to single-handedly re-paint a train station if it meant he could stay out of prison.

Gambling addict Ian Evered, 44, of Horatio Avenue, made the promise at Reading Magistrates^ Court on Monday after being warned he could be jailed.

Evered previously admitted two counts of theft from First Great Western. Between May 1, and May 12, 2008, he admitted stealing two cheques worth ^2,096.

Between August 15, 2006, and November 2, 2007, he pilfered cheques totalling ^79.70, also belonging to First Great Western who employed him as a prosecutions manager based at Reading station.

Ironically, Evered^s job ^ he had worked at the train company since 1999 ^ was to take money from people who had not paid for their train ticket.

Ruth Draisey, defending, said: ^He acknowledges he was in a position of trust and he had a responsibility. He was of hitherto good character. He carried out his duties with diligence. Clearly in May 2008 things really did go wrong.^

She said he was addicted to gambling and his marriage broke up although he was still on good terms with his estranged wife, a psychiatric nurse, who attended court.

She continued: ^He is extremely remorseful and anxious. It^s led to a huge degree of shame. He has lost everything because of this offence. He said it^s been a life changing experience never to be repeated. He has lost all his work colleagues who have not called him.^

She said he would be willing to make it up to the train company in anyway he could ^ including repainting Reading station.

Chair of the bench Felicity Hewison did not take him up on his offer and instead gave him a jail sentence for 26 weeks, suspended for two years.

Evered was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and pay ^2,175 compensation to First Great Western.

He was ordered to pay ^600 costs.