A WINCHESTER ex-Army officer who stole a six-figure sum has been given more time to pay compensation.

Thomas Meggison, 62, stole £102,699 from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force between 2015 and 2020.

Last June he was handed a 21-month suspended sentence after admitting fraud and in December was ordered to pay £145,543 by March 7, under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Nick Tucker, defending, said Meggison planned to re-mortgage his home to pay the compensation.

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He told Judge Paul Dugdale that Meggison had "put his back" into complying with the order but legal issues had got in the way. Under a court order from 2020 Meggison is barred from having any dealing with the family home.

Mr Tucker asked for the order to be extended by three months to give time for the issues to be sorted.

The judge agreed, giving Meggison until June 7 to comply with the compensation order.

Meggison, a gambling addict, of Rockbourne Road, Harestock, was not present at Winchester Crown Court for the hearing which lasted five minutes.

Of the total, £108,256.23 will be paid in compensation to the cadet force. He was chief executive of the cadet force for 12 years.

In December Judge Adam Feest KC told Meggison that any default on the payment would result in a three-year prison sentence.