A barman who had worked at a number of pubs on the Shotley peninsula today admitted theft from a former employer.

Shane Alan Stocker, of Hossack Road, Ipswich, was fined £472 and ordered to pay compensation of £150, plus £250 towards costs, and £47 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to stealing cash from the Bristol Arms in Shotley Gate.

Ipswich Magistrates' Court heard how CCTV captured Stocker, aged 36, pocketing cash from the till.

He initially denied any wrongdoing but after being presented with evidence admitted one charge of theft.

Stocker pleaded guilty to theft by employee on the basis that no more than £100 was stolen between November 23 and November 30, 2018.

The court heard from solicitor David Allen in mitigation who said: "There is, of course, an element of breach of trust and that aggravates matters and makes it more serious.

"In this particular case of course, the employer believes that matters were more widespread than the prosecution have charged.

"That may or may not be right, we simply do not know.

"But you can only deal with what has been charged and the defendant has pleaded guilty to.

"As the defendant says in his basis of plea, this was a short period when he was going through financial difficulties.

"That is absolutely no excuse, of course, for taking the money that he did. But he has no history of dishonesty. It is, in fairness to the defendant, uncharacteristic."

Magistrates told Stocker during sentencing he had been in breach the trust before sentencing him.

Bristol Arms landlord Shane Rolin estimated the losses amounted to thousands of pounds and said after the hearing: "It is very sad how one persons greed and selfishness risked jeopardising the business and jobs of colleagues."

The popular pub with views down the river Stour has been closed since before Christmas and is looking to reopen in time for Easter.

Mr Rolin added: It has been rough couple of years with this large scale theft and then just as we were trying to recover from that, the pandemic hit.

"Hopefully we can put all this behind us and move forward."

Stocker had previously worked for the Shipwreck and Foxes Marina on the peninsula and the Henley Keys.