SA man steals $60,000 in coins from wash

A South Australian man, who stole more than $60,000 in coins from the car and dog wash where he worked, has avoided jail time.

Roman Lazicki, 54, took the money from vending machines at the Mount Gambier business and deposited them into several bank accounts between May and November 2017.

He was found guilty of 70 counts of theft last November after a District Court trial.

Sentencing him this week, Judge Sydney Tilmouth said Lazicki's theft almost destroyed the business.

"These expropriations had a devastating impact on the owners of the business, which operated on the cusp of insolvency for a long period of time as a result," he said.

Judge Tilmouth said it was "troubling" that Lazicki refused to admit he had taken the money, instead telling the jury it was inherited through his father's estate.

Despite his lack of remorse, the judge said a jail sentence could hinder his recovery and instead handed him a wholly suspended non-parole period of 22 months.