Guilty plea in $4000 pub theft

A man has pleaded guilty to taking $4000 cash from the till at the Horse & Hound pub in Masterton last month.

Shane Warburton, a 49-year-old Masterton beneficiary, appeared in the Masterton District Court yesterday charged with theft after money was taken from the pub on July 23.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Garry Wilson said about 10.50am that day Warburton had waited for the bar's manager to go to the back of the building.

Warburton then opened the till, taking four bundles of notes that totalled $4000, Mr Wilson said.

He hid the money and left the premises.

When confronted by police about the theft, Warburton initially denied any involvement. However, he had been caught on CCTV inside the pub.

The money had not been recovered and reparation of $4000 was sought, Mr Wilson said.

Warburton's lawyer, Peter Stevens, told the court his client had severe drug addiction problems and he had recently "fallen off" the methadone programme.

He needed to be enrolled in a residential treatment programme designed to help people with their addiction problems, Mr Stevens said.

Judge Carrie Wainwright remanded Warburton until September 10 for sentence.