A father-of-two has been jailed after taking more than £11,000 from the Oxford GP surgery where he worked.

Practice manager Wayne Hamilton, known as Richard, 51, of Calais Dene, Bampton, bought computer games, a digital camera and an iPod, and paid off mortgage arrears with money from Banbury Road Medical Centre.

At Oxford Crown Court yesterday (August 15) he admitted charges of false accounting, theft and obtaining money by deception and was sentenced to six months in prison.

Hamilton was in charge of finances at the five-doctor surgery, and between December 2002 and October 2004 he took £11,188 from the practice's bank account.

Tim Godfrey, prosecuting, said that on three occasions he doubled his own salary, paying £1,657.14, £1,656.90 and £1,731 into his own bank account.

Mr Godfrey said: "In effect, he paid himself his monthly salary twice. He also put £5,118.81 into his building society account to pay arrears on the mortgage for his family home."

On another occasion, Hamilton reimbursed his credit card using practice funds after spending £49.48 on computer games at PC World. He also used the surgery's account at the store to buy a £219 digital camera, £217 of computer memory cards and a £179 iPod.

Mr Godfrey said: "These matters came to light after Hamilton told the doctors he had not yet had a meeting with the practice accountant, Mr West, to finalise the year's accounts. He said the accountant was unwell and had cancelled the appointment. One doctor sent him a get well note and Mr West called the practice to say he was not unwell or off work, and the defendant had not made an appointment with him."

Hamilton, who has two sons aged 15 and 17, was suspended in October last year, and sacked in November, after a disciplinary meeting where he said he had committed the offences due to depression and marital difficulties.

Although he told the partners that his father had agreed to pay his debts, they have still not been reimbursed.

Graham Arnold, prosecuting, said: "He's never likely to work again and has brought disgrace on his family. The family feels that shame and a great regret and remorse.

"When he was dismissed in November, he continued to go to work for four months without telling his wife what had happened. That might show the pathetic state of mind he was in."

Sentencing Hamilton to six months in prison, Recorder Lawrence West said: "You were in a position of trust. The partners trusted you and you abused that trust."

After the case, Dr Jane Morris, a senior partner at Banbury Road Medical Centre, said: "It's very disappointing when someone in a position of trust acts in this way.

"We'd like to reassure everyone that Mr Hamilton's actions did not affect patient care in any way."

Staff from the NHS Counter Fraud Service said they would be launching civil action to recover the money lost by the surgery.