A JD Sports worker stole thousands of pounds-worth of stock to fund a 'raging' cocaine addiction.
Anthony Riley, who worked in the clothing firm's warehouse in Rochdale, used a 'sophisticated' method of defrauding his own employers.
By manually printing off old delivery labels he was able to divert 'high value' goods from the depot to his partner's home.
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Riley, 26, was caught out after a security guard became suspicious.
The dad-of-two has avoided jail after getting clean from drugs and finding new work.
"You now realise that the cocaine addiction was leading you to behave in a way that could not be tolerated by your employers," a judge told Riley.
Speaking of the £23,761-worth of goods stolen by Riley, Recorder Eric Lamb said: "That did you no benefit whatsoever because it was simply used to pay off your by that time raging addiction to cocaine."
Manchester Crown Court heard that £13,761-worth of the goods stolen were recovered, but the remaining £10,000 has not been.
A security guard was alerted after empty packaging was discovered within the warehouse.
CCTV footage was reviewed and Riley could be seen putting some items into a delivery trailer and others into a delivery van.
Riley was detained by security staff, and he refused to answer questions. The police were informed.
It was discovered that he had been manually printing off old labels with his partner's address.
The judge said it was a 'sophisticated' method of theft.
But defending, Anna Chestnutt said Riley was easily identified and caught 'very quickly'.
She said it was an 'opportunistic' theft, committed when he was spending up to £100 a day on cocaine and also suffering mental health problems.
"His arrest for his matter was the abrupt wake up call that he plainly needed," Ms Chestnutt said.
She said Riley has since turned his life around, and has found work with Parcelforce.
"He is absolutely determined not to repeat this sort of offending," she added.
Despite branding the theft as 'high degree' of breach of trust, the judge said he was able to avoid sending Riley to jail because of his remorse and the effect of being locked up would have on his young family.
Riley, of Moston, pleaded guilty to theft by employee and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
He was ordered to carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and 80 hours of unpaid work.
