Banbridge pizzeria chef (34) pocketed over £1k of takings

A MAN who pocketed more than a £1,000 of takings from a Banbridge pizzeria where he was working has been jailed.

Matthew Patrick Smyth, 34, of Primrose Gardens in the town, was convicted of theft at Banbridge Magistrates' Court.

Smyth had claimed his theft had been to fund a gambling addiction, though the court was also told it is now his fourth such conviction.

The court heard that on Monday, 7 August this year, police spoke to the owner of Madison's Pizzeria, based at the Scarva Street shopping complex, about allegations of theft.

The victim said that while counting money from the previous week they found that two envelopes of cash were missing.

CCTV footage was checked which showed Smyth, who worked there as a chef, pretending to place money in a safe but instead placing it in his pocket.

They then checked more CCTV and saw two other occasions where he had taken envelopes in the same manner.

Smyth was arrested and brought to the police station and interviewed, where he admitted all the allegations and told police he was battling a gambling addiction.

A total estimate was put together that he had taken £1,040.55.

District Judge Eamonn King noted that his entire criminal record consisted of thefts while working as an employee for various different businesses.

He ordered Smyth to serve eight months in prison and made a compensation order for the full amount taken.