A 37-year-old bricklayer who stole cash from a pub’s social club has been sentenced to community service.
Prosecuting advocate James Robinson told the court how Raby was in the Pinewood on November 15 at 1.10am as a customer with two other men.
The trio were seen looking at CCTV cameras and then two of the men left, leaving Raby alone. He was then said to have covered up a camera by using a leaflet and climbed over the bar, taking the jar containing cash and betting slips. The two men then returned and all three left the bar together.
Raby went to police headquarters and confessed he had taken the jar after he heard that police had been interviewing other people in relation to the offence.
The court heard that his last previous conviction was in 2011 for shoplifting.
A probation report said that Raby had committed the offence while under the influence of alcohol and had been attending Motiv8 prior to the incident. Raby told probation he had split up with his girlfriend the night before and was ’not in a good place’.
The report said that he had since been to the pub and offered to repay the money as well as donate £50 to charity.
Defence advocate James Peterson said: ’It’s safe to say this was a stupid senseless decision. Regretably alcohol was involved and Mr Raby has little recollection. He had been going through relationship difficulties and had fallen off the wagon.
’He remains in contact with Motiv8. It was an opportunistic offence. He didn’t enter the premises intending to steal but we have to accept there was a level of pre-meditation in going over the bar and getting the money.’
High Bailiff Mrs Hughes described the incident as a ’mean offence’ but accepted that Raby had not gone to the pub with the intention of stealing.
Raby was also ordered to pay £145 compensation to the pub social club and £125 in prosecution costs.