A MAN stole £13,000-worth of toys from his workplace in just three months – and then sold them all on eBay.

Samuel Binnington pilfered Lego, computer games, action figures and more from Toys R Us while he was employed at the store in Poole, Dorset.

He then took to the Internet to sell the new toys on, spending the money he made on the cost of living.

The 21-year-old, of Benbow Gardens in Southampton, admitted a charge of theft by employee when he appeared before a judge who described his actions as an “absolute breach of trust”.

And although he could have faced a jail term for taking the high-value items, magistrates took the “unusual step” of sentencing him to a community order because she believed he was genuinely sorry.

Caroline Foster, presiding magistrate at Bournemouth Crown Court, said: “We have thought very carefully about this. There are various reasons for the decision.

“We see a lot of people coming through the courts each day. We believe you are genuinely remorseful.”

Binnington had gone to court surrounded by family members who were supporting him. The court was told how he had co-operated with police and had also made “generous” attempts to repay Toys R Us for what he had stolen.

The court heard that Binnington, who carried out the thefts between November 1, 2013 and February 26 of this year at the Nuffield Industrial Estate toy store in Poole, has no previous convictions.

He has already paid back around half of the amount taken, and will start a new job in the coming weeks.

Mrs Foster, who commended Binnington for having employment, “at a time when it’s very difficult for young people”, said she didn’t want to impose any sentence that would prevent him from “moving on” with the rest of his life.

However, she added: “I do believe this is a very serious matter. It is an absolute breach of trust.”

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, and ordered to pay £145 in costs.