A MAN stole marine construction materials from Sunseeker International to sell on his eBay account, a court has heard.

Kirk Philip Norman-Gray, of Highfield Road, Corfe Mullen, pleaded guilty to theft by employee after telling police he’d been told there was a “culture” of taking materials to sell on.

Simon Clark, prosecuting, told Bournemouth Magistrates Court that the items taken from the Poole company were worth around £1,500.

“The defendant was working as an agency worker at Sunseeker when the production manager received information that he had been stealing items from the yard and selling them on his own eBay account.”

The court heard the manager made a test purchase on eBay to confirm.

James Moore, mitigating, said Norman-Gray had taken the items because he needed the money to support his heavily pregnant partner. He’d sold the items for £600.

“He had been told there was a culture of taking items if you could get away with it and not get caught.”

Magistrates ordered Norman-Gray to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community. He was also told to pay £1,545 in compensation and court costs.