A THIEF who stole potentially contaminated items stolen from Sellafield has escaped jail.

Nicholas Hanna, 28, who worked who worked at the site as an electrical engineer, was given a12-month sentence, suspended for 2 years, 150 hours of unpaid work, costs £750 and victim surcharge £140.

Hanna pleaded guilty to selling two pressure calibrators he had stolen from the nuclear site between 4 and 12 December 2017.

He advertised the items on his friend’s eBay account for £5,500 and £299.

The items were retrieved on public health grounds as they had been used at the nuclear site and may have been contaminated.

Victoria Agullo, senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Nicholas Hanna acted out of foolish greed when he sold items he had stolen from his place of work.

"He advertised the items as used, but like new, and in good condition however they had been used at a nuclear site which could have potentially put the buyer’s lives and public safety at risk.

“When faced with the overwhelming evidence against him, he was left with no other choice but to plead guilty to offences he faced.”