A hard-up building company manager betrayed his boss by carrying out jobs on the side and pocketing more than £4,000 in payments.
Andrew Lavallee had worked for the building firm in Newton Abbot for 11 years and was meant to be chasing work for them rather than himself.
He abused his position of trust as contracts manager by organising his own jobs on which his employer's plant and workforce, Exeter Crown Court was told.
Lavallee, aged 44, of Millman Mews, Buckfastleigh, admitted theft and fraud and was ordered to do 150 hours unpaid community work and repay the £4,155 he made from his fiddle.
Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, told him:"You were carrying out work for yourself and collecting the money when it should have been done in your employer's name.
"You must have known it was dishonest and your circumstances at the time were no excuse for what you did. What you did was bound to be discovered and you have lost your job and your reputation.
"No doubt you are thoroughly ashamed of what you did and I am confident you will not be back before a court again."
Mr Piers Norsworthy, prosecuting, said Lavallee worked for Newton Abbot based K M Courtier ltd for 11 years and was contract manager when he committed the offences.
He said some of the work was done using plant and employees from the company but the money was paid to Lavalee.
Mr Kevin Hopper, defending, said Lavallee had debts at the time but has since found another job and started repaying the money to took. He has paid back £450, saved £700 more and planned to clear the rest within a year.
He said:"He was married at the time of the offences but has since split up and is living in rented accommodation."
