A Canterbury dad of three who claimed he was downing three litres of wine every night because of debts has been told by a judge: “You are a liar!”

Tricky Richard Keyes, 46, said he was getting through 200 units of booze a week because of his concerns over money worries.

But the judge, Recorder Paul Taylor said to Keyes' lawyer:

“Is he asking me to believe that he gets through 200 units of alcohol a week.. three litres of wine per day?

“That’s nonsense isn’t it? It would seem to me he is doing all he can to get me to send him to prison!”

Keyes, of Athelstan Road had admitted forging his wife Sarah’s name on a secret £10,000 loan and then using the cash to buy himself a car.

The couple have since split up and are getting a divorce but Canterbury Crown Court heard there is a real risk his estranged wife and children might be evicted because of the escalating debt.

Mathew Turner, prosecuting, said money owing on the loan, which was taken out seven years ago, was now £18,524.

He said that since then Keyes had also been convicted of stealing £3200 from Magnet, the company which employed him.

The prosecutor said Keyes ran the family finances but behind his wife’s back applied for the £10,000 loan, not including the £1,970 set-up fee.

“They are no longer together and are getting a divorce. Sarah was extremely distressed when she discovered the loan had been taken out, “ added Mr Turner.

Kerry Waite, for Keyes, said that until 2005 he had been a “man of good character with an excellent work record and in a position of trust and responsibility at work.”

“Is he asking me to believe that he gets through 200 units of alcohol a week.. three litres of wine per day?" - Recorder Paul Taylor

He added: “This wasn’t taking out a loan to fund a lavish lifestyle. It’s a modest amount which was used to buy a £5,000 car and the rest used on day-to-day expenditure.”

The judge asked: “Then why did he forge his wife’s signature?”

Mr Waite replied: “Desperation; trying to juggle pride and not wanting to show that he didn’t have control of the finances. He was trying to keep his and his family’s head above water.”

But the judge blasted Keyes for “not accepting his responsibility and still half-blaming his wife.”

In a pre-sentence report Keyes had “half suggested” that he only pleaded guilty “to try and get his wife out of trouble”.

He added: “He’s lying about his complicity in the crime and lying about his alcohol abuse – when it would seem there isn’t any.

“Neither does he have any insight into the harm he has caused his wife. She may very well be evicted but there is not a word in the probation report about him being sorry for what he has done.

“Doesn’t he feel shame or sadness for what he has done?”

Mr Waite said Keyes, who is planning to go to university, felt shame and concern “particularly for his three children”.

He added: “The defendant accepts full responsibility for this..it was him alone who took out this loan.”

Keyes, who admitted obtaining a money transfer by deception, was given a 12 week jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work for the community.

The judge told him: “What you did caused your wife anxiety, upset and fear and you could have had no complaints had I sent you straight to prison.”