A SITE manager has been ordered to pay compensation after he admitted to stealing thousands of pounds from a popular entertainment venue in Kendal.

Richard Williams, of Burland Grove in Kendal, pleaded guilty to stealing £3,500 belonging to the Brewery Arts Centre between June 17 to August 11 last year when he appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court on July 31.

The 41-year-old was sentenced on September 26 for one count of theft by employee after magistrates had ordered for a pre-sentence report.

READ MORE HERE: Worker stole thousands of pounds whilst employed at entertainment venue

At an earlier court hearing, prosecutor Lee Dacre said the defendant had been employed at the company for over ten years when he was caught taking money from the cash box of the car park ticket machine.

The court was told this occurred on 15 separate occasions whilst Williams had been on emergency sick leave.

Mr Dacre said Williams was one of the only employees at the company who had keys to the cash box.

He told the court staff became aware of the defendant’s offending after realising a new ticket machine had been malfunctioning.

Mr Dacre said the machine was checked and staff eventually realised that the cash box had nor been put back properly.

Representing Williams at his plea hearing on July 31, defence solicitor James Mc-Call-Harkness said: “He has reached the cliff edge of his life.

“He became addicted to cocaine following the separation from his wife and loss of his accommodation provided by the council. He is no longer addicted to cocaine, but he still has a long way to go.

“He was forced to go off sick which led to this spiral of theft. He fully appreciates that a custodial sentence may be appropriate in his case. However, he has taken steps to address his addiction and his behaviour.

“In my submission, there are several mitigating factors that would enable you to step back from imposing an immediate prison sentence.”

Magistrates considered the all-option pre-sentence report before imposing a 12-month community order with requirements of completing a 16 week electronically monitored curfew between the hours of 8pm and 7am, as well as 10 rehabilitation requirement days.

Williams was also ordered to pay £2,000 in compensation to the Brewery Arts Centre.