A 50-year-old man has been jailed for two years for stealing from parking meters in the city of Melbourne.

Rodney Tatnell, of Wyndham Vale, was working as a parking officer when he stole more than $288,000 from city parking meters, between July 2007 and December 2008.

The County Court has heard at the one point, Tatnell was taking home up an extra $3,500 a day.

The court heard he bought a number of cars and luxury home items, as well as gifts for his family.

In sentencing, Judge Frank Gucciardo, accepted Tatnell had a limited intellectual capacity, that he was easily led and that he had acted as an informer against his co-accused.

But he said the court had no option but to impose a period of imprisonment.

Tatnell was sentenced to two years in prison and will be eligible for parole in 12 months.