An accounts coordinator who diverted £107,000 worth of company cash into his bank account – most of which has disappeared – has been jailed for sixteen months.
David Barnsley, 36, of Belsize Road, Worthing, West Sussex even refused to tell his lawyers where the bulk of the cash went after a mini online spending spree netted him a motorbike, laptop and jewellery.
He pleaded guilty to stealing £107,000 from Scope Packaging of Unit 3, Brazil Close, Beddington Farm Road, Croydon between March 31 and November 7, 2008.
“This is a very unusual case of someone who has stolen over one hundred thousand pounds and has not got anything to show for it,” announced Croydon
Crown Court Recorder Jonathan Ferris. “I am baffled as to what has happened to the money.”
Prosecutor Mr. Shub Banerjee told the court (pictured) married Barnsley joined the firm on £17,500 pa in January 2001, but an outside accountancy company reported missing funds in May, last year.
Barnsley was responsible for writing company cheques, making electronic fund transfers and handling the petty cash.
“The accountants became aware of significant financial discrepancies,” explained Mr. Banerjee. “There was overpayment of wages and stationary.”
The defendant refused a face-to-face meeting with bosses and in November resigned and was escorted from the building.
Barnsley has not repaid a penny and when quizzed by police on April 26 tried to claim the money was owed to him.
“Where the money has gone is not clear to Mr. Barnsley,” said his lawyer Miss Wendy Holmes. “It was going out for everyday things and private health treatment.”
“You were a senior man in the accounts department and were trusted with the company’s chequebook and made use of that to write cheques close to one hundred thousand pounds,” Recorder Ferris told Barnsley.
“This was theft in breach of a high degree of trust.
“Your instructions as to what happened to the money is less than detailed. The information available to me today is limited.”
Confiscation proceedings against Barnsley were adjourned until next month.
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