Engineering worker stole metal worth up to £10,000 from his boss

Damien Tedesco made ten trips to Halifax Metals between September, 2017, and August, 2019, with the property stolen from Craig Engineering of Riverside Mills, Saddleworth Road, Elland.

Tedesco, 30, of Whitehall Drive, Illingworth, Halifax, pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to 24 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 240 hours of unpaid work.

He must pay also pay £6,500 compensation to Robert Woods, his former employer at the engineering firm, at the rate of £300 a month.

The court heard that Mr Woods made investigations into the missing metal and saw Tedesco on CCTV at Halifax Metals selling it for scrap.

He was in a company van and had made ten trips in all to Halifax Metals and been paid £1,800 by them.

The value of the metal to Craig Engineering was between £7,000 and £10,000.

Mr Woods had taken Tedesco on as an apprentice and provided training for him. He felt betrayed by his dishonesty, the court heard.

Jonathan Turner said in mitigation that Tedesco was addicted to drugs at the time and had run up a substantial debt.

He admitted the theft immediately when he was challenged by Mr Woods and was frank with the police.

Mr Turner said Tedesco, the father of two young children, had found other work and was now free from drugs. He had paid off the debt to the dealers and was very remorseful about stealing from Mr Woods.

Judge Jonathan Rose said Tedesco was a valued and trusted employee at Craig Engineering.

Mr Woods had shown him kindness and introduced him to his family, and the offending was over a considerable period of time.

But he had owned up immediately and taken charge of his life by finding other employment and managing to wean himself off drugs.