A FORMER head chef at Frank’s Steakhouse has avoided jail after he was convicted of raiding a safe at the restaurant of £2,500.
Shane Brown, aged 26, of St Peter’s Square, Northampton town centre, who also served an apprenticeship at Raymond Blanc’s restaurant, La Manoir, was handed a community order lasting 12 months, given 250 hours of unpaid work and told to pay compensation of £540.
Brown, who also worked at Frank’s Hamburgers, was also told to pay court costs of £800.
Northampton Crown Court heard Brown had a row with the restaurant owner about money he claimed he was owed. However, he was later arrested and then convicted of getting a key to the safe cut before looting it for £2,540. Sentencing him for burglary, Judge Michael Fowler told Brown he had “failed to face up to what he had done”.
He said: “The evidence was absolutely clear that you took this money having planned the taking of it and prepared yourself with the cutting of the keys.”
He added: “I take the view that in this case it is not necessary to impose a custodial sentence but you must understand the seriousness of the matter.”
Brown must also pay a £60 victim surcharge.