AN employee of a city pub who stole thousands from a safe could soon be behind bars.
Jamie King, of Fortuna Way, Kempsey, was put in charge of banking the takings at the Cardinal's Hat in Friar Street but went on to steal more than £3,000.
Owen Beale, prosecuting, said the 32-year-old was employed by pub landlord Nigel Smith as the unit manager.
Mr Beale said a bookkeeper found there were shortages between December 28, 2021, and February 23, 2022.
The prosecutor explained when King was challenged he claimed to have banked the money.
"There was a banking slip (he produced), it was not stamped," Mr Beale said.
"He was in a position of responsibility.
"There was a high degree of trust breached - it was his job to bank it, he simply did not."
Mr Beale said in total £3,350 was stolen.
A victim personal statement from the landlord of the Friar Street pub was read out to the court in which he said: "This is not something I expect from a member of staff, especially one who had such positive referrals from previous employers."
During the hearing at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, (March 2), King admitted theft by employee and also breaching a community order given to him in July 2021.
Vaughn Whistance, defending, said as soon as it become a police matter King had accepted his guilt in police interview.
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He said the money King took was used to pay for legal representation in a case in which King was accused of a serious offence.
Mr Whistance added King not only lost his job as a result of the offending but also lost accommodation as he lived above the pub and had to leave.
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Magistrates deliberated if the case needed to be sent to the higher crown court for sentence and, after lengthy deliberations, Susan Mitchell, chairman of the magistrates bench, announced the bench had found their sentencing powers were insufficient.
The chairman told King he had breached the trust by taking money "to benefit yourself".
The chairman ordered an "all options" pre-sentence report for King, which means he could be jailed.
The defendant was told to attend Worcester Crown Court on Thursday, March 30 for sentencing.
King, who was given unconditional bail, was also told the breach matter would come before Worcester Magistrates Court on March 31.
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