A chef caught stealing food from Sonesta Beach Hotel was ordered by a magistrate to teach kids to try to get them into the hospitality business.

Howard O'Meally, admitted stealing a slab of frozen salmon, three bags of shrimp, and three bags of frozen codfish worth $150 from the hotel on November 12 last year.

O'Meally, from Sandys, who has no previous convictions, was caught by a security officer who noticed the bulge in his bag and the stolen food was discovered when he went back into the kitchen, said Crown counsel Koshea Scott.

Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves yesterday ordered O'Meally, 41, to do 150 hours of community service.

"You are the shifting chef and you can become the teaching chef.

"You get to teach the young ones how to teach, not to steal. We seem to have a shortage of young Bermudians in that sector, and perhaps you can persuade them to take a job."