Phillip Hansen, 45, from Heathcote, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to the theft.

Prosecuting, Senior Constable Mark Herman said Hansen had noticed an unsealed bag of money during the course of cash deliveries on December 7 last year. “Normally each bag would be sealed at the depot,” Senior Constable Herman said.

“Temptation began to play and he decided when the opportunity arrived he would remove some of the cash.”

The court heard Hansen was working with one other security officer on the day and had committed the theft while he was alone in the truck.

“He removed one bundle of $50 notes, a bundle totalling $50,000,” Senior Constable Herman said.

Hansen then placed the stolen money in his own bag and continued with his work, he said.

“Once he arrived home he checked the cash and placed the bulk of it in a large glass jar,” Senior Constable Herman said.

“He then dug a hole in the backyard and covered it with a rock.”

The court heard Hansen also hid some of the money in a computer printer.

Police arrived at Hansen’s property on December 19 with a search warrant and he immediately led them to his cash stashes.

A total of $48,800 was recovered; Hansen said he had used some of the money to pay bills.

He told police he stole the money because he had been under financial pressure.

The court was told Hansen had been in the security industry for eight to 10 years and that he referred to the incident as “a moment of weakness”.

In sentencing, Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen described Hansen’s actions as “a monumental breach of trust”.

Hansen was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, with all but three months suspended.