CHEF Nicholas Davies who stole money from the wine bar where he worked, has been sentenced to a nine-month community rehabilitation order, formerly known as probation.

Davies, 26, of Mayenne Place, Devizes, pleaded guilty before Kennet magistrates on Tuesday to stealing £600 cash on April 10 from the Four Seasons in the town's High Street.

Rob Welling, prosecuting, said Davies had been employed as a chef at the Four Seasons since February.

Mr Welling said that, though his boss, landlord Gary McMartin, had suspected Davies of theft, the two men had fallen out and Davies was dismissed for other reasons.

It was only when Mr McMartin went to bank the cash he had in his safe, that the loss of the money came to light. On two separate occasions, Mr McMartin was told by the bank that he was £300 short.

Later on, in a discussion on a dispute about £150 wages which Davies insisted Mr McMartin owed him, Davies voluntarily claimed responsibility for the two thefts. The police were informed and Davies was arrested.

In interview he told the police he had got very drunk one night and when he woke up the following day found the cash in his wallet. He had spent £300 of it and the rest was lost when the chocolate box he had hidden it in was inadvertently thrown away.

Paul Tritschler, defending, said Davies had a history of doing silly things when he got drunk but this was the first time one of them had landed him in court.

He said Davies is now out of work with little prospect of being re-employed in the immediate future because of his conviction.

Magistrates ordered Davies to pay back the £600.