Chef who stole bar cash appeals jail term
He jetted off on holiday after theft
A chef jailed for nearly six months after stealing cash from the pub where he worked has appealed against his sentence.
Joshua Kerr, 26, stole nearly £1,500 from The Library Bar after sneaking back into the boozer following a late-night lock in.
He was jailed for 170 days at Paisley Sheriff Court in May and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work on his release.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew also ordered Kerr, who had only worked at the Causeyside Street boozer for two weeks, to be placed under 12 months supervision.
He said: “You clearly took advantage of the trust placed in you by your employer.
“There can be no doubt, this is a gross breach of their trust.”
He has now taken his case to the Sheriff Appeal Court in Edinburgh in a bid to have his sentence reduced.
The court previously heard that Kerr, formerly of Ard Road in Renfrew, had been handed the keys to the pub to take in an earlymorning food delivery.
Prosecutor Frank Clarke told how he crept back when everybody had left to swipe the takings.
He said: “A member of staff attended and noted the door to be ajar the following morning.
“They entered and expected the accused to be there. He was not.
“The staff member entered the office and saw the safe was open and money, which had been left from the previous day’s trading, was gone. Enquiries were made and it was discovered he went on holiday.
“He attended the airport and asked for a ticket to a destination ‘anywhere’.”
Kerr had only been working for the Causeyside Street pub a fortnight when he stole the cash.
He had joined in a staff party after his shift when he was given the keys.
The dad told bosses he would let himself in to take in an order.
He was captured on camera returning when the rest had left on August 14, 2016.
But cops could not find him because he had flown off after stealing the money.
Mr Clarke added: “CCTV was viewed and footage showed the accused return to the premises during the very early hours.
“He was the only person seen on the premises after staff left.
“Weeks later, he attended at the police office.”
Kerr was also rapped for making malicious phone calls to his ex.
He targeted Danielle McVey after they broke up and bombarded her with abuse.
Kerr pleaded guilty to making threats last June 18.
The safe was open and money, which had been left from the previous day’s trading, was gone