A SHOPWORKER with mounting debt problems breached the trust of his employer by stealing more than �6,000 worth of items and selling them on eBay, a court heard.

Tristan Haudiquet, 27, worked for Coopers DIY in Great Yarmouth, and was caught after management became aware about a number of thefts of items some of which were later being sold on eBay, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Robert Warner, prosecuting, said that private investigators were called in, and when they spoke to Haudiquet he was very co-operative and made full admissions of what he had done.

He said because of Haudiquet’s admissions it was possible to trace the transactions made by Haudiquet on eBay and showed that entries dated back to April 2007, and most of the goods sold had been alarms.

He said the cost to Coopers amounted to �6,424.

Mr Warner said that two other member of staff also admitted thefts from the store and they were dealt with in the magistrates’ court.

Haudiquet of Euston Road, Great Yarmouth, admitted theft between April 2007 and July 2010.

He was given a six-month jail sentence suspended for a year and a four month curfew.

Judge Philip Curl told him: “It was a substantial amount of money and a breach of trust because you were an employee.” He accepted that Haudiquet was of previous good character and had stole because of financial problems, but said: “I know you were in financial difficulties but, sadly, so many people are now and that cannot be an excuse, although it may explain why you acted out of character.”

Danielle O’Donovan, for Haudiquet, said he was remorseful for what he had done and had e-mailed the director of Coopers to make a personal apology.

“He knows what he did was not right. He was in financial dire straights. It was an act of desperation.”

She said that he had now lost his good name: “It has been a dramatic fall from grace for this young man.”