Worker at Peterborough bookies spared jail sentence after £12,500 theft

Joshua Crick (25) of Clayton, Orton Goldhay, set up false accounts when he was working at the Coral bookmakers on Oundle Road in Woodston, Peterborough.

He then took a total of £12,540 to repay debts of £4,000.

But Coral’s fraud investigators became suspicious, and after using CCTV they found Crick had been making the withdrawals.

Yesterday (Thursday) he appeared at Peterborough Crown Court, where hew as given an eight month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay back all the money, at a rate of at least £400 per month.

Sally Hobson, prosecuting, told the court. The defendant was working in Coral between April 4 and May 22 last year,

“It became apparent to the Coral fraud team odd transactions were taking place.

“Fraudulent accounts were detected.

“It was revealed the defendant opened nine false accounts, taking money out.

“The fraud team looked at the CCTV in the branch when the accounts were opened, and there were no customers, but the defendant could be seen on a computer.”

Miss Hobson said Crick was invited for interview at the company, but he did not attend, providing sick notes.

His father then contacted Coral saying the defendant was happy to pay the money back in instalments, but the firm said the matter was being investigated by police.

Crick made full admissions to detectives, saying he owed friends £4,000.

Defending, Nicola Devas said Crick had no previous convictions, and was willing to pay all the money back.

She said he had a new job in recruitment, and his current employers knew of the conviction.

Judge Gareth Hawksworth said: “This must be a matter of concern to you, as a 25-year-old, that you come before the court for such an offence. “This was dishonesty prompted not only by debts, but by greed.

“You have lost your good character. But I am sure you can put this behind you. Given your previous good character it would not be right to send you straight to prison.”

Crick had pleaded guilty to one count of theft by employee at a previous hearing.