TWO pensioners who defrauded a charity they worked for of more than £47,000 avoided jail today.

Greenwich Council for Racial Equality treasurer Hardev Singh Dhillon and former director Makhan Bajwa previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the race relations charity.

Dhillon, 76, of Woolwich, and Bajwa, 67, of Erith, were given a suspended sentence as well as a curfew and ordered to pay £7,000 costs each at Woolwich Crown Court today.

Judge Stephen Dawson sentenced them to 12 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered them to pay £1,000 costs each, plus £6,000 compensation for investigation costs.

Dhillon and Bajwa were also given a 150-day curfew order where they must remain within their houses between 8pm to 6am.