A Pizza Hut manager helped himself to a large slice of the Hamilton restaurant’s takings.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard this week that Darren Gorman embezzled £9500 over a four-month period.
Now he’s been warned he could end up in prison for the “clear breach of trust”.
Gorman, 29, of Gateside Way, Condorrat, admitted taking the money while working at Pizza Hut in Gateside Street, Hamilton, between January and May 2017.
He was originally accused of embezzling £29,752.80 and was due to stand trial after denying the charge.
But at a pre-trial hearing the Crown accepted his guilty plea in respect of the reduced sum.
Lauren Donnelly, prosecuting, said the accused was responsible for all aspects of banking at the restaurant.
At some point the franchise owner became suspicious that “the money was not marrying up”.
Ms Donnelly told the court: “Checks revealed it was on days when the accused was working that there were inconsistencies.
“The franchise owner commenced an investigation and the matter was reported to the police whose own investigation took some time to complete.
“The £9500 loss has not been recovered by the franchise owner.”
Sheriff Liam Murphy told Gorman, who has no previous convictions: “This was a significant sum embezzled by you in your capacity as restaurant manager.
“Clearly it was a breach of trust which the court takes very seriously.
“I require a full criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty assessment.
“All sentencing options will be available.”
Gorman had his bail continued and will be sentenced on March 17 after solicitor Stephen McQuillan addresses the court on his behalf.
