A SECURITY guard stole from his own workplace, including tungsten, cables and carbide, a court has heard.
Neil Clark previously admitted that on August 23 last year, at the Riverside Business Park in Irvine, he stole metal and engineering instruments.
Prosecutors said the items included tungsten inserts, measuring equipment, cables and 5kg of carbide. Only the carbide had a recorded value offered in court, at £450.
The 57-year-old, of Orchard Gardens, Galston, returned to Kilmarnock Sheriff Court for sentencing on August 3.
Defence solicitor Scott Agnew confirmed his client was employed through a separate company as a security guard at the engineering and manufacturing firm Howco, on Shewalton Road.
He said Clark had retired around the time of the offence, but accepted it was a "significant breach of trust".
Mr Agnew said his client was "very embarrassed by the behaviour" and there was "no attempt to minimise his actions".
"He should not have done it, and that's why he is sitting here," he said.
Clark had a previous conviction involving cigarettes and tobacco, he added, but there was nothing since.
"This might be behaviour that is out of character for him," he said.
Sheriff Colin Bissett said: "You were in a position of responsibility for the security of the premises, so therefore this is a serious matter."
As a direct alternative to custody, Clark will be under curfew from 7pm to 7am for four months.
Share