James McCorkell, 45, left his job after his bosses found out he’d taken the money from Barrhead train station in December 2013.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard on Monday that there was a problem with the safe at the station.

McCorkell, of Barrhead, put the cash, which was a mixture of notes and coins, in his bag along with his lunchbox during a shift.

He told the court he forgot the cash was there, took the backpack home and left it locked in his partner’s home while she went away for the weekend.

Joanne Gilmour, prosecuting, said that McCorkell “should have been aware there was something in his back other than his piece box” — especially as the money was a mixture of notes and coins.

But the court heard prosecutors did not have any information about how much of the £4,014.55 was in coins and, therefore, could not tell how much it would weigh.

Sheriff Craig Turnbull was told that the money had been the takings at the station for tickets bought in the previous week.

When security workers came to collect the cash on Saturday, December 14, they noticed it was gone but, the court heard, McCorkell had told a colleague they had collected it and given him a receipt, which he lost.

He then told his employers that the money was in his locker when it was, in fact, in his girlfriend’s house.

Giving evidence on Monday, McCorkell said he could not remember what he had said as it was so long ago and he was unwell at the time.

The court heard that he had offered to hand the cash back and was told to take it to the station on the morning of Tuesday, December 17, 2013.

When he arrived with the cash senior members of staff were waiting to tell him he was suspended and, the court heard, he has since been sacked.

Gilmour asked Sheriff Turnbull to convict McCorkell of stealing the cash, saying he had not told any colleagues or managers he had taken it home, lied when initially asked about it and “deprived his employer of the money.” Tom Williamson, defending, said: “Mr McCorkell committed one foolish act and one very foolish act and they never involved any criminal intent.

“The foolish act was putting the money in his rucksack.

“The very foolish act was making up a story when it came to light he still had possession of the money.

“He tried to hide the fact he had taken the money out of the station when he shouldn’t have done.

“There is no suggestion he had desperate need for the money for any other purpose.” He asked Sheriff Turnbull to acquit his client, saying he was a man of “unblemished character” who has no previous convictions, adding: “He is guilty of some very foolish actions, he has paid for, unfortunately, with his employment.

“What he has not been guilty of is anything with any criminal intent.” After hearing that McCorkell, formerly of Braeside Crescent, Barrhead, was in line for a promotion that came with a £14,000-per-year raise, Sheriff Turnbull found him not guilty.

He said: “There is no doubt the money has wrongly been taken away from the station.

“The money that’s been referred to throughout this trial was taken without the consent of the employers.

“I’m not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt you intended to deprive them of it permanently, temporarily or indefinitely and I find you not guilty.”