A CIVILIAN worker who stole £120,000 from a police station, then buried it in his garden, was jailed for 22 months yesterday. Robert Moffat, 43, was caught after going on a spending spree with his illegal haul. He bought a new bathroom, a motorbike, a car and a holiday. The cash was seized as evidence in a drugs case and then left in a holdall at Hamilton police station where Moffat, 43, worked in the production room. But it took months for the authorities to realise the cash was missing. An investigation was launched and officers discovered that Moffat, from Airdrie, had spent nearly £9,000 on a bathroom, £6,250 on a motorbike, paid almost £1,900 for a holiday, lodged £6,000 in a bank account and also put £1,000 down on a car. Moffat paid in £10 and £20 notes. At a hearing before Hamilton Sheriff Court last month, Moffat admitted stealing the money between February and June last year. A prosecutor told the court: "Mr Moffat advised the officers that the money was buried in his garden. Officers discovered a bag containing £91,405 underneath a slab. "They also discovered £1,000 in cash in the pocket of his car. He estimated he had spent about £30,000." Yesterday, Moffat was told he must serve 22 months in jail. His lawyer, Mark Lunny, said his client had spiralled into depression following the deaths of his wife and 14 year-old son. He said: "Since the deaths of his wife to illness and his son in a tragic accident he has suffered from severe depression. "He has lost a lot of weight and had been struggling with the stresses and strains of his work. "At the time of this incident Mr Moffat had told bosses at the police office that he had become fearful due to his state of mind. "He had access to various items in the production room, including guns and ammunition, and had wanted the keys to the room taken from him. "However, little was done to address his concerns and he became more and more depressed," Mr Lunny went on. "He became increasingly concerned about his circumstances and was aware that he had become unfit for the job. "When the money was brought to the production room, Mr Moffat was aware that it had not been counted. "It played on his mind and he became fixated by it. He snapped and proceeded to take the money and can offer no explanation for his actions. "He is deeply embarrassed and apologises for the theft from which he now finds himself in court. "To date, some notes have been recovered, but others are still to be reclaimed. "Mr Moffat accepts his guilt." Jailing Moffat, Sheriff Joyce Powrie told him he had abused a position of trust. She added: "In my mind you clearly put some thought into taking the money and were quick to spend it on numerous items, including a car and holiday for your girlfriend. "You are well aware of the seriousness of this crime, and therefore I can see no option but to impose a custodial sentence."