A thief who fleeced his employer out of thousands of pounds claimed he did so because he was being blackmailed by his former girlfriend.
Michael Stewart abused his position of trust at renowned Newcastle company Crosslings in a refunds scam.
A court heard he claimed he stole more than £18,000 because he was being blackmailed by his "cocaine addicted ex girlfriend and drug dealers and the safety of his mother was being threatened".
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Newcastle Crown Court was told Stewart, who is now working for Amazon, started working for the company in 2015 and the thefts happened between September and November 2020.
Matthew Hopkins, prosecuting, said the company grew suspicious when a customer tried to claim a refund on a power tool he bought and they found out a refund had already been sent to Stewart's account.
When asked, he admitted making 38 bank transfers totalling more than £12,000 and he had also taken more than £4,000 in cash refunds.
Mr Hopkins said: "He told management he was being blackmailed by an ex girlfriend who was threatening to do harm to his mother and said that's why he did it.
"We have nothing to gainsay that.
"He said he intended to pay it back but it's accepted he didn't have the means to do so."
Stewart, 28, of Dibley Street, Walker, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to a 12 month community order with £6,000 compensation and 200 hours of unpaid work.
Recorder Geraldine Kelly said the company have been established in Newcastle since 1855 and "pride themselves on the customer service they have built up with many thousands of trade accounts".
She told Stewart: "They wanted to highlight the reputational damage you have caused that company and the distress you have caused with the ensuing investigation into the theft.
"It's not just taking the money but it has other consequences. Trust is hard to regain.
"You betrayed their trust."
Stewart, who represented himself, said he was now earning around £1,600 a month working for Amazon but said they don't know about the conviction.
The court heard he is remorseful.
