A light-fingered cleaner has been sentenced after admitting stealing camera equipment worth thousands of pounds from a film business. 

Damien Knowles, 42, was caught after selling-on expensive camera lenses that he had taken from the offices of Norwich-based We Are Immersive.

Staff from the company, which specialises in making interactive virtual reality film experiences, later spotted the stolen items for sale at the Norwich branch of photography and video gear retailer Wex. 

Equipment worth thousands was stolen from Norwich virtual reality film business We Are ImmersivEquipment worth thousands was stolen from Norwich virtual reality film business We Are Immersive (Image: We Are Immersive)

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Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard they had brought the lenses from Knowles for £718, unaware that they were stolen. 

Nicola Lamb, prosecuting, said: “He had been employed working as a cleaner at We Are Immersive when the business began to notice a number of items going missing.

“An employee who went to Wex to buy replacement items instead identified lenses that matched those that had been stolen.”  

The company estimated that equipment worth more than £6,400 had been stolen in the period he had access to the company offices in November 2022, she added. 

Damien Knowles was caught after selling stolen lensesDamien Knowles was caught after selling stolen lenses (Image: Newsquest)

Knowles, who previously lived in Norwich but has since moved to Cornwall, pleaded guilty to theft and fraud through the sale of stolen items.  

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James Landles, mitigating, said at the time he had recently seen a relationship break up and had turned to alcohol and substance abuse. 

“This is not someone who tried to deny these offences or answered no comment, he admitted them during a voluntary interview with police,” he said.

Knowles was sentenced at Norwich Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to theft and fraudKnowles was sentenced at Norwich Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to theft and fraud (Image: Newsquest)

“It has been hanging over him for a very long time since then and there has been no suggestion of any further offending in the meantime.”

Magistrates sentenced him to an 18-month community order with requirement to complete 100 hours unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation days and alcohol treatment. 

He was ordered to pay compensation totalling £8,192 to Wex and We Are Immersive, which has made films for clients including Aviva, Ikea and Lotus.