Joshua Alty pleads guilty to one count of stealing by clerks and servants

A Bundaberg man has been given some sage advice after he was sprung swiping more than $10,000 worth of tobacco from his boss.

A smoker who stole more than $10,000 worth of tobacco from his employer has been warned to keep himself out of trouble or risk spending actual time behind bars.

Appearing in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 29-year-old Joshua Alty pleaded guilty to one count of stealing by clerks and servants.

The court heard the crime happened over a month while he was employed by a refrigerated trucking company.

Acting Magistrate Peter Cooke termed the amount of tobacco stolen “significant”.

“It's a breach of trust when a person is employed and they’re getting paid and they’ve got a job, then to take advantage of the position they’re in and take from their employer,” Mr Cooke said.

The magistrate said while it was a positive factor that Alty had not been before the courts before, there was a need to deter both the defendant and the wider community from what he termed “unacceptable” offending.

The court heard Alty had obtained work with another employer since, and that his employer was aware of his actions and had spoken highly of him in a letter to the court.

“You stole the tobacco for over a month and it was clearly planned even though unsophisticated,” Mr Cooke said.

“It's a substantial amount and whilst I appreciate the cost of tobacco, that’s an awful lot of tobacco to be smoking.

“In any event, that's another issue that you’ve got to face if you’ve got a problem with tobacco.”

The court heard Alty had no issue with drugs or alcohol.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ prison, suspended for two years.

Alty was ordered to pay $10,573.93 to Brisbane Refrigerated Trucking, referred to SPER.

Convictions were recorded.