A Rotorua man has been ordered to pay more than $10,000 in reparation after admitting stealing scrap metal.
Dean Phillip Nightingale, 53, appeared for sentencing before Judge Oke Blaikie in the Rotorua District Court this week.
He was charged with seven counts of theft by a person of a special relationship.
The charges relate to incidents between February 9, 2011, and July 14, 2011, where Nightingale stole scrap metal from his employer.
The scrap metal ranged in value from $574 to $2788.
Nightingale's lawyer Douglas Hall said his client had taken responsibility for his actions and had owned up to his offending.
"He was the foreman and he accepted responsibility for what he had done."
Mr Hall said Nightingale had health issues which meant he had difficulty getting around and he was "constantly in a great deal of pain".
Judge Blaikie said Nightingale's last offending was in 1989. This offending was a breach of trust to Nightingale's employer and colleagues.
Judge Blaikie said Nightingale had a clear understanding of what he had done and the consequences of his offending. "I see you have health issues and you are unable to do community work," he said.
"On each of these charges you are convicted and sentenced to four months' community detention."
Nightingale was also ordered to pay reparation totalling $10,776.
She delivered her speech in te reo Māori about embracing diversity.