An American contract worker who was fined $1,200 after he pleaded guilty to stealing $500 will probably lose his job.

George Edward Hoffert Jr., 39, of North Shore Road, Pembroke, admitted to stealing cash from the Bank of N.T. Butterfield. Hoffert, from Baltimore, said he worked at Bermuda Air Conditioning as a contract worker for the last five years.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill said on September 3, 2004, the complainant went to the ATM machine in the Waterfront Building on Pitts Bay Road. After he had withdrawn $400 he exited the building leaving his card in the machine. The next day, went to retrieve his card from the Bank and was asked about an additional withdrawal of $500.

The Bank checked the video surveillance photos at the ATM that morning which showed ?the defendant saw a card was already in the machine, withdrew $500, then left?.

Pictures of the culprit were distributed and last week Hoffert was recognised by a bank manager. Ms Dill said: ?He told Police he ?did not know anything? during an interview at Hamilton Police Station. When he was shown a copy of the video footage he said he had no recollection of the incident as he was drinking heavily and had a heroin addiction.?

However, Senior magistrate Archibald Warner said he did not believe him and asked him if he ?thought the machine was dispensing free money??, adding: ?I?m thinking about locking you up.?

But Hoffert said he had been ?numb for years after my wife passed away. I?m not a thief. My mind was bent?.

But Mr. Warner ? who came to Bermuda as a Policeman in the 1970s ? told Hoffert: ?If you commit an offence you can?t expect to get a work permit... You will probably lose your job, which is a mitigating circumstance. I fine you $1,200.?