Social media helped bring a thief who swiped a Tenby staff-tips tin to justice.

Gareth Tantrum, of Dan y Bryn, Evanstown, Gilfach Goch, Bridgend, pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, September 4.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, defending, told the court that Tantrum bought two pints in Tenby RFC on May 6 and put the sealed staff tips tin in his bag when the barman turned his back to open the till.

“He quickly picked up the container, put it in his bag and walked away with his pints, so there was some thought to the theft.”

The incident was captured on CCTV, viewed by the manager when the theft was discovered the following day.

Tantrum, 59, was identified when the manager posted the image on social media, and the police were called.

He took the opened tin with him to his interview, claiming it had only contained the £18.53 which was still in it, however, the manager stated £70 in notes had been transferred from a previous tin, and the container had been on the bar for nearly three months.

Mr Prichard-Jones said: “From past experience, it was estimated there would have been £200 to £300 in the tin when it was stolen, so about £180 may have been removed from the tin.

“The money should have distributed between staff at the rugby club. The defendant clearly took some money from the box before returning it.”

The court heard that Tantrum had a number of previous convictions, including dishonesty offences.

Eurig Roberts, defending, said Tantrum had made a full and frank admission about the theft, but disputed it contained £200.

“He says the money in the tin is what he brought with him to interview.”

“No-one can speculate today how much money was in that tin. The defendant did not benefit financially from it.”

Mr Roberts added that the offence had not been pre-planned before Tantrum entered the club.

“He knew he should not have taken the tin and deeply regrets his actions.”

Magistrates fined Tantrum £80 and ordered him to pay £85 court costs and £30 surcharge.

He was ordered to pay £70 compensation, as the bench stated there was no evidence that the tin contained £200 to £300 suggested.