Darwin sales rep who stole almost $9000 of meat sentenced to four months’ home detention

A DARWIN sales rep convicted of stealing almost $9000 of meat from his employer has been sentenced to four months’ home detention

Ashley Chin, 51, has been sentenced to four months’ home detention for stealing almost $9000 in meat

A DARWIN sales rep convicted of stealing almost $9000 of meat from his employer has been sentenced to four months’ home detention.

Ashley Chin, 51, was found guilty of nine counts of stealing in the Darwin Local Court on March 27.

The court heard Chin had been stealing the meat – totalling $8795 – from the Winnellie warehouse of wholesaler Holco between November 2018 and January 2019.

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Chin worked for the company as a sales representative for the Katherine area.

During the hearing, Chin gave evidence about his role within the company, telling the court he provided the meat taken as samples to provide to clients – as was permissible within his role.

However, Judge Greg Macdonald said Chin was “not able to specifically state which clients or potential clients got what stock.”

“It’s common ground that Holco did not at any time receive payment in respect of any of the goods,” Judge Macdonald said.

Chin’s lawyer Matt Hubber told the court his client paid the money back as soon as he was found guilty.

“He does take responsibility for it (the offending), that’s indicated in the fact that he’s paid the money back,” Mr Hubber said.

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“It’s a shame how all this has transpired

“He maintains that … up until this offending he was a model employee.”

However, prosecutor Helena Blundell said she had doubts about how culpable Chin felt for the offending considering what Chin is alleged to have told Corrections during an assessment for his suitability for home detention.

“The consciousness of his culpability is problematic given what he’s alleged to have said to Corrections,” she said.

During sentencing, Judge Greg Macdonald referred to Chin’s offending as “a spectacular fall from grace.”

“I presume given the criminal record … that your client’s a long-term resident of Darwin of good character,” Mr Macdonald said.

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“He’s had no prior offences for anything like this but he’s been in town for a long time.

“The gravity of the offending was the breach of trust of the employer. They trusted you, you betrayed that.”

Mr Macdonald urged Chin to comply with the conditions of his four-month home detention order.

“The court would want you to be able to comply with the conditions, do your time and get on with your life,” he said.