Judge Martin Blackmore told John William Dalby in the District Court at Albury that he had received “the very barest minimum”.

Magistrate Gordon Lerve imposed a 12-month jail term on Dalby in December with a minimum period of five months to be served on a charge of being an accessory before the fact to a break, enter and steal.

“In my view, the sentence should have been longer,” Judge Blackmore said when dismissing a severity appeal.

He said Dalby, 26, had supplied the code to a drug-taker, Joshua Vandeventer, in what was a serious crime and serious breach of trust.

Judge Blackmore said last year he gave Vandeventer a head sentence of more than five years’ jail for several aggravated break, enter and steal matters.

Dalby was told by Judge Blackmore that employers would take into account his breach of trust for the rest of his life.

Solicitor James Elliott said Dalby was serving his first period in jail and was determined never to repeat it.

He said Dalby was ashamed of what he did and felt pressured to supply the code, but downplayed and misrepresented his role in the theft of more than $5000 in booty from the club.

It was submitted by Mr Elliott that the overall sentence should remain the same with a shorter period in custody.

Dalby began working at the club in June, 2010, and provided the security key code and location of the safe key to Vandeventer.

Regularly Dalby worked during evenings, was required to secure takings in the safe and then activate the alarm.

The club was locked about 9.45pm on September 8 and the break-in took place through the back door at 12.30am the next day.

The correct alarm code was entered at the first attempt, the safe key found and used.

There was $4500 in cash stolen, along with three antique watches, alcohol, an iPod and computer. The watches were found in a motel room.

Dalby denied any involvement when police spoke to him, but two weeks later admitted his part.