A WAREHOUSEMAN has admitted stealing kitchen hobs worth almost £4,000 from a business.

Appearing at Flintshire Magistrates Court, Christopher Johnson, 39, pleaded guilty to taking the items from Discount Domestics on Hawarden Industrial Estate before selling them on ebay.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, said the firm's managing director Paul Hughes had noticed discrepancies following a stock check late last year.

On January 29 Mr Hughes spotted Johnson on CCTV moving hobs between two different warehouses and decided to install a further CCTV camera at the rear of the warehouse.

At about 6pm on February 20 he checked a fire door in the warehouse and noticed hobs had been left by the door and on viewing video footage he saw Johnson hiding other items in some brambles outside.

Mr Hughes moved a number of vehicles from the firm's car park so it would appear no-one was present on site and then waited until 10.30pm when he saw a white BMW drive into the car park which he knew belonged to Johnson.

He then confronted his employee and on appearing at a disciplinary meeting on February 27, Johnson, of Firtree Grove, Whitby, Ellesmere Port, admitted he had stolen a number of hobs which he had then sold on ebay.

Ms Jackson added Mr Hughes estimated that 14 items were unaccounted for at a total cost of £3,701.37.

Probation officer Andrew Cunnah said Johnson accepted full responsibility for the theft and was extremely ashamed of what he had done.

Johnson, a father of three, said he was experiencing financial difficulties in the run-up to Christmas which had led to him stealing the hobs.

David Matthews, defending, told the Mold court that everyone who knew Johnson would be "shocked" by his behaviour and added he was a man of previous good character who had "unfortunately succumbed to temptation".

District judge Gwyn Jones sentenced Johnson to 36 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, for two theft charges.

He also ordered Johnson to carry out 130 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,500 compensation to Discount Domestics as well as costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £115.