Butter and cheese thief sentenced

A man who stole nearly $53,000 worth of butter and cheese from a Palmerston North company was sentenced today.

Donald Laurence George Fraser, 32, was sentenced to five months' community detention and 250 hours' community work in Palmerston North District Court.

He was also ordered to pay reparations of $15,000.

Fraser had pleaded guilty to theft from Goodman Fielder last month.

The company launched a private investigation that caught Fraser, who had stolen produce from their Longburn site.

Last month Fraser admitted to stealing six pallets of butter and 11 of cheese.

The thefts were carried out between February last year and March this year while Fraser was employed by the company as a truck driver.

- NZPA