An assistant manager at Oxford Ice Rink who stole £10,000 from the tills is tonight beginning an eight-month jail term.

Jason Holden, of Oxlease, Witney, admitted one count of theft between November 16, 2006, and October 10, 2008, and was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court today.

The court heard the 36-year-old, who was earning between £22,000 and £23,500, put customers’ money through the ‘training’ setting on the till, rather than the ‘live’ system, meaning the transactions did not have to tally with the takings.

Judge George Bathurst-Norman jailed married father-of-one Holden for eight months and made a confiscation order for the £10,000.

The amount, which will go to Oxford City Council – which runs the rink – must be paid within ten months or Holden will be jailed for an additional six months.

Outside court, Simon Howick, the council’s head of human resources, said: “We are satisfied with the outcome of the trial. The council is committed to protecting public funds.

“In any large organisation there is always a risk that very occasionally, an employee will choose to cheat and compromise their integrity.

“Any instance of fraud, corruption and bribery will not be tolerated.”