AN EMPLOYEE who stole model train parts from a city firm and sold them online has been ordered to pay £5,000 in compensation.
Steven Griffiths, of Foxhunter Close in Droitwich and worked at DCC Supplies in Worcester, pleaded guilty to theft at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday (June 17).
The 40-year-old worked for the store between May 2015 and March 2016, where he stole faulty model train parts from the workshop, re-built the models and sold them on eBay, court heard.
Prosecuting, Owen Beale, said: “This was a breach of trust. The company builds and sells model trains and the job allowed him access to faulty stock.
“He began taking the parts, building the models at work and selling them on eBay. He used his daughter’s boyfriend’s information as an alias but his own email address for PayPal.
“His employer conducted an investigation when Griffiths asked if he could buy some of the faulty parts. He bought a train and saw the address was his.
“He said he decided to take the parts because they were being destroyed. He accepted he did it. His daughter and boyfriend knew nothing of what was happening.
“167 items were missing, out of that 92 were sold or are for sale on Ebay and 75 are still missing. He wasn’t able to provide a value but accepted it was around £6,000 in an interview.”
Defending, Belinda Ariss, said Griffiths is in debt and is trying to sell his house.
She said: “These problems, along with depression, caused him to take the bits and bobs, build the items together and sell them.
“He fully admitted the offence and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”
Griffiths was handed a 12-month community order where he has to live and sleep at the address he provided to court.
He was also ordered to pay £5,000 in compensation, a £150 fine, £135 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
