TEMPTATION got the better of a security guard employed to keep watch over drink stored at a brewery warehouse.

Spirits secreted away from the Vaux plant in Sunderland, following the brewery closure last summer, found their way to security man Mark Bowman's home.

Durham Crown Court was told more than £1,000 worth of bottles of vodka were taken by Bowman from the brewery's spirits warehouse last August.

Stephen Duffield, prosecuting, said that after the brewery closed in July, with several hundred job losses, Bowman was working for a security company employed to keep watch over stores of drink which had not left Vaux's city centre site.

He said a security camera was switched off at certain times, while Bowman gained access to a key for the warehouse from another member of staff.

When it became obvious drink was being stolen, a covert security device was used to keep watch on movements in the warehouse.

As a result, police visited Bowman's home and recovered the bottles of vodka.

Donald MacFaul, mitigating, told the court: "He was short of money at the time and succumbed to temptation in a climate of property going missing."

But Mr MacFaul said all the drink was recovered and Bowman has found new employment, working as a plant operator on the Metro rail extension to Sunderland.

Bowman, 27, of Alder Close, Hetton-le-Hole, on Wearside, admitted theft and was given a combination order of 100-hours' community service, plus two years probation. He was also ordered to pay £580 costs.

Passing sentence, Judge Denis Orde told him: "You were there to protect their property, but you did just the opposite. It's a sorry state of affairs."