Derbyshire worker stole thousands of pounds of gear from firm by posting it to himself

Aurel Purdel's scam was uncovered when two packages, containing £7,600 of items, were intercepted by staff at Vaillant, on Farmwell Lane, Sutton on March 7, this year, said prosecutor Emma Gilberthorpe.

She said there was no way of knowing how much Purdel stole, but he sent himelf 16 packages, starting on June 28 last year, and a stock check revealed £100,000 of parts were missing.

"The crown don't think the true figure is £100,000," Ms Gilberthorpe said. "But £19,000 were new items - we can prove that.

"There is going to have to be some discussion between the crown and the defence about what is accepted.

"There was significant harm caused, a breach of trust and it happened over a significant period of time."

Because the offence has a starting point of two years it exceeds the sentencing powers of the magistrates and Purdel will have to be sentenced at the crown court.

Vicky Clarson, mitigating, said: "Initially they were items of scrap that were put into a skip.

"He doesn't accept the value of items missing were all due to him."

She asked for a probation report to be prepared but the court heard it would be difficult without the final figure of stolen items being known.

Purdel, aged 48, of Kirk's Lane, Belper, admitted theft from employer, when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Tuesday.

He was bailed to Nottingham Crown Court on July 18.