Ex-Employee Must Pay For Late-Night Water-Dunk Damage

A disgruntled noodle bar employee, who sneaked into his workplace in the early hours of the morning and dunked electronic payment equipment in water during an on-going contractual dispute, has been ordered to compensate his ex-boss.

Simone La Barbera, 22, of Pipewell Road, Carshalton worked at the New Culture Revolution (pictured) restaurant in King's Road, Chelsea, where he was caught on CCTV entering with borrowed keys at 1.30am.

Hammersmith Magistrates Court heard he dunked two hand-held payment card readers in a tub of water and poured more water over a receipt printer and the till, causing £3,000 worth of damage.

He pleaded guilty to burgling the restaurant on September 19, with intent to cause criminal damage, and was conditionally discharged for six months.

La Barbera was also ordered to pay £1849.20 compensation, £85 costs, a £180 criminal courts charge and a £15 victim surcharge.

The court heard La Barbera did not have permission to be on the premises at that time and the owner did not know he had a key.

CCTV captured him filling a tub with water in the kitchen and placing the two card readers inside and causing more water damage to the other equipment.

The owner identified him from the footage and the first-time offender was arrested by police, although he initially claimed he had nothing to do with it.

La Barbera's lawyer said he was in a “contractual dispute” and the defendant accepts this was no way to resolve his employment issues.