Published date: 02 June 2016 |
Published by: Staff reporterRead more articles by Staff reporterEmail reporter
THE former manager of a lettings agency has admitted fraud to the value of more than £5,000.
Thomas Britton was manager
of the Beresford Adams branch on King Street in Wrexham town centre between April 2014 and April 2015.
of the Beresford Adams branch on King Street in Wrexham town centre between April 2014 and April 2015.
Wrexham Magistrates Court heard yesterday that during that time he filled in deposit release forms with his own bank details, meaning money to be paid back to tenants was transferred to his bank account.
After Britton, 31, pleaded guilty, the court heard how he stole more than £5,000 before leaving the company to become a building inspector for Redrow.
Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, said senior managers noticed deposit release accounts had already been closed after some tenants asked for their money back.
Britton had used a single-user log-in on the company’s system and the names of former and current employees at his branch to process the forms.
and the names of former and current employees at his branch to process the forms.
After an audit trail which “threw suspicion” on his colleagues, he was interviewed and said he had filled out the forms using his bank details when training staff.
He said those employees must have later used his bank details “in error”.
Defending Britton, Laura Preston-Hayes invited the court to consider a probation service report which was delivered by Andrew Connah.
Mr Connah said: “He accepts full responsibility and was in a very bad place at the time as his relationship had broken down and he was in financial difficulty.
“At the time he had an £8,000 vet’s bill to pay, although he does not offer this as an excuse.”
Ms Preston-Hayes added: “The most serious part is the implication of his former colleagues. He is mortified his ex-colleagues have been involved.
“The customer
accounts were for those who had either moved abroad or were dormant.
accounts were for those who had either moved abroad or were dormant.
“He didn’t really expect to get away with it and had been expecting a knock at the door.”
District judge Gwyn Jones spared Britton, who lives in Cuddington, Northwich, Cheshire, an immediate jail term.
Britton was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for a year and ordered to carry out 140 hours’ unpaid work. He must pay £5,205 in compensation, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
. He must pay £5,205 in compensation, £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Mr Jones said: “This is a case where you committed fraud from a position of trust and responsibility. You were trusted by your employer to deal with affairs with honesty.
“You were trusted by tenants who placed money with the company and it was clear over a period of months you used information obtained to gain access to accounts to ensure money was transferred to your own account.
obtained to gain access to accounts to ensure money was transferred to your own account.
“An audit by the company put other staff in a position where they were under suspicion of being unlawful.
“Suspicion fell on other staff and it is clear in my view you were fully aware of what you were doing and did not care what was going to happen to others.
“It was an abuse of a position of trust, an abuse of responsibility over time, and fraud with a number of victims.
“The main aggravating feature is the blame and suspicion placed on others, colleagues who worked with and were trained by you.
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/162735/lettings-agency-manager-from-wrexham-stole-more-than-5-000.aspx
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