A former Ipswich sandwich store employee who stole £8,240 from his employer has walked free from court after a judge decided not to send him straight to prison.

Davie Griffin, 24, of Bramford Road, Ipswich, admitted theft by an employee over a 17-month period between November 2011 and March this year while he was working at a Subway outlet in Queen Street, Ipswich.

He was given a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 300 hours’ unpaid work in the comuunity. He was also ordered to comply with a 36-hour attendance centre order.

Sentencing him, Ipswich Crown Court Judge Rupert Overbury said the theft wasn’t sophisticated and it was inevitable he would be found out. He said Griffin appeared to have spent the money he stole on his girlfriend and their baby and rent rather than extravagant items.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting, told the court Griffin had been employed at Subway as a supervisor and had stolen the money by entering false amounts on the till and pocketing the balance.

He said that when the theft was discovered Griffin had been sacked.

Juliet Donovan, for Griffin, said her client had no previous convictions and his duties had included cashing up.

She said Griffin had been surprised and terrified when he learned how much he had actually stolen.

She said at the time of the offences he had a girlfriend and a baby and some of the money had been used to buy nappies.