THE Leeton man who stole from the Hydro Tavern before it was burned down last year has been sentenced to two years imprisonment.
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Leonard Rappley Osbourne, 44, appeared in Griffith Local Court on Wednesday for sentencing, but immediately appealed magistrate Peter Bugden's decision.
Mr Osbourne will remain in custody until his appeal is heard.
On July 16 last year Mr Osbourne was caught on tape about 5am smashing a window and climbing into the gaming area of the pub.
He used a stick to push up the surveillance camera in the room, so it pointed at the roof, before breaking into the "hopper" box of at least one poker machine.
He then stole $6500 from the machines before leaving the hotel.
An hour later closed-circuit television (CCTV) showed a vehicle drive to the tavern and an unidentified man approaching the broken window.
The tape shows the man standing in front of the window as a "large fireball" exploded through the opening and the man running off with what the court was told "appeared to have both forearms and hands on fire".
Mr Osbourne had previously been charged with maliciously destroying premises by fire, but the matter was withdrawn and dismissed on March 24.
Mr Osbourne was sentenced to two years jail for the charge of break, enter and steal after police found a cash tin and the money believed to be taken from the Hydro Tavern's poker machines inside his home the day he was arrested.
He was sentenced to three months imprisonment for possessing a prohibited drug and three months for the charge of goods in custody.
Both of these sentences have been backdated to December 5, meaning Mr Osbourne has completed his time for those charges.
An appeal date for the break, enter and steal matter is yet to be set for the matter to be heard.
