James Anthony Adams, 26, scaled a fence at a Hume plumbing business about 3am in November last year.

He then loaded equipment – including an industrial high-pressure water jet machine, three drain cleaners, a gas detector, two remote trolley reels, a jet hose and other tools – into his ute and drove away.

The ACT Supreme Court heard Adams was identified because of the vehicle as he had worked as an apprentice for the company for about a year in 2012 and 2013.

His employment ended after a dispute over wages and entitlements.

The court heard that while some property was recovered, the insurer had to pay out $20,000.

Adams was arrested and charged with dishonestly appropriating property.

He initially pleaded not guilty and was committed to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court.

However, he changed his plea and appeared before Acting Justice David Robinson on Tuesday for sentence.

The court heard the offender had a minor criminal history, which was limited to one conviction for property damage.

Acting Justice Robinson noted Adams had drug and alcohol abuse issues and a report said he had been ambivalent about changing his lifestyle.

The judge said he could not make a clear finding on the motive but speculated that, as a former employee, Adams knew the business' layout and routines and regarded it as a good target "to obtain property which could, in turn, be converted to cash to buy drugs".

"There is, however, no firm foundation for this finding," the judge said.

He sentenced Adams to 10 months' jail, to be suspended on entering a three-year good behaviour order.

"It is a serious offence but I keep in mind that a moderate sum was taken.

"The degree of planning is not evident and at the time of the offence there was no contract of employment and no truly confidential information was exploited."

The judge ordered Adams to pay the plumbing business $250 to cover the excess paid to the insurer.