Wassim Saliba was forced to install security cameras because of up to 25 burglaries, attempted break-ins and acts of criminal damage over seven years.

But little did the owner of Gateway Island restaurant, La Maison Cafe, know that one of the most costly incidents would come from the inside.

U’Prichard began working for Mr Saliba when he was still at school and continued in the job, on and off, for about four years.

It was his inability to meet repayments on finance company credit for furniture and white goods, as well as a car loan, that led to U’Prichard ripping off his boss.

Wodonga Magistrates Court heard yesterday that U’Prichard, 20, devised a scheme to charge customers full price for meals, then put it through the cash register at a discount rate.

He would then pocket the difference.

U’Prichard was placed on a 12-month community corrections order after pleading guilty yesterday to one count of theft.

Police made a special appeal to magistrate William White that U’Prichard be given a conviction given his “lengthy and extensive” betrayal of trust.

Mr White gave U’Prichard a stern rebuke, but did not convict him because of his youth and his potential for rehabilitation.

“You were placed in a situation of trust, which makes this very much worse,” Mr White told U’Prichard.

The court was told that a witness, Luda Lucas, saw U’Prichard at the restaurant’s cash register on December 3.

That information was passed on to Mr Saliba, who checked security footage and the register’s usage record.

That record revealed deductions totalling $480 were made at 5.45pm.

Police viewed the footage, which showed U’Prichard removing cash from the register and placing it in his wallet.

Two days later another staff member visited U’Prichard, who said: “I’ve messed up. Wassim and Luda caught me taking money out of the till.”

After making a statement to police on December 9, Mr Saliba began to check his financial records for other transactions where U’Prichard had clearly stolen from the cafe.

That revealed U’Prichard took cash on 64 occasions between November 1 and December 2, stealing $6960.

U’Prichard was arrested at his then Beechworth Road home on December 10.

Defence solicitor Mario Vaccaro said U’Prichard was now sleeping on the garage floor of his mother’s home.

U’Prichard must complete 120 hours of unpaid community work and pay $6960 compensation.