Morne van Vuuren (26) was also jailed for two years, but the sentence was suspended for five years on condition that he complete a two-year rehabilitation programme at Noupoort.

Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court Magistrate Amrith Chabilall warned him he may not consume liquor or drugs, other than those prescribed by a doctor, during his period of house arrest.

Van Vuuren also had to perform 16 hours a month community service in the form of cleaning and maintenance.

Prosecutor Simon Leope said Van Vuuren had been in the employ of the company ISIS (Pty) Ltd, and as such was part of a team that assisted Vodacom with IT technical support and maintenance.

Vuuren had illegally accessed the Vodacom domain by dialling remotely into the Vodacom network with a PC, and had thus downloaded air time to the value of R120 000 to 50 different pre-paid cellphones, and kept the money for himself.

Van Vuuren used the R120 000 to support his drug addiction, Leope said.

Van Vuuren pleaded guilty on 60 counts of fraud and two of violating legislation relating to the unauthorised access to, interception of, or interference with data.

Chabilall said fraud was endemic in the Western Cape and that society demanded the courts not only punish Van Vuuren appropriately, but also make an example of him for others.

Hardly a day went by without the court having to punish even high-profile people for fraud.

Chabilall disagreed with defence attorney Andrew Joyce, that Van Vuuren's plea of guilty to the charges had been an indication of remorse.

He said offenders often pleaded guilty simply because there was no other way out.

By cheating Vodacom, Van Vuuren had "bitten the hand that fed him", the magistrate said.