James Michael Fitch, 33, of Swan Point, has been convicted of four counts of stealing. 

Fitch has been sentenced with a 12-month community correction order, and must repay $574 to Tasmania Zoo. 

He has also been ordered to complete 56 hours of community service. 

Manager of Tasmania Zoo, Rochelle Penney, said it was the timing of the stealing that stung the most. 

Mid last year, Ms Penney’s father, and founder of the zoo, Richard “Dick” Warren, lost a battle with cancer, and Ms Penney said it was the day before her father’s funeral that she uncovered the thefts. 

“This was happening while dad was dying – how could someone do that?” she said. 

“You know that it happens, but you never think it will happen to you.

“I was angry, I was upset, it was horrible. 

“He was stealing from his employer, who was in hospital, dying, and then after dad passed away he was still doing it. 

“I was doing everything I could to hold the business together, as well as myself, and he was still doing it. It was so difficult dealing with that as well as everything else. 

“Pretty low thing to do, I reckon.”

Ms Penney said it was an insult to her father’s memory, who poured his whole life into making Tasmania Zoo what it is today. 

However, she hopes Fitch’s conviction will prevent him from doing the same thing to another employer. 

“I’m happy that he’s been charged, and that it’s on record,” she said. 

“Hopefully other people realise, and for other employers it shows the importance of getting police checks.”