Bruce James Smith was at the CBD club on the afternoon of September 16 when he noticed the machine payment voucher book had been put down and left by the club's duty manager.

SMith picked it up, walked into the bathroom and returned a short time later with a docket filled out - and a signature forged - for an amount of $406.

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He took it to the cashier, received the money and left the premises.

Meanwhile, the cashier contacted the duty manager, saying she couldn't find a corresponding payment on her system.

The fraud was discovered when the pair went through the CCTV footage and saw Smith picking up the book.

Smith was arrested a week later and charged with making and using a false document to obtain an advantage.

He will be sentenced in November.