Postmaster Who Helped Himself To ATM Cash Dodges Jail

A postmaster, who raided his branch’s ATM and covered the £25,000 shortfall by entering bogus figures in an accounts log, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence.

Father-of-three Parvar Singh, 42, of Rectory Road, Grays, Essex, was the boss of the Tile Farm Road sub-Post Office in Bromley, South-East London.

“People involved in this sort of breach of trust would normally be sent down straight away,” the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told the first-time offender.

“It was an unauthorised loan and he has paid the money back. He always intended to pay the money back.

“You were a man of good character and you have lost that good character through your utter stupidity by helping yourself to a substantial sum of money,” added the Judge.

“It was utterly dishonest and a serious breach of trust.”

Singh pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court that between September 1 and October 31, 2009 he falsified a Balance Trading Statement, falsifying an inflated cash balance of £25,000.

Prosecutor Mr. Lawrence Henderson told the court Singh took over the sub-Post Office in April, 2009 and an audit in May, last year revealed the shortfall.

When quizzed Singh immediately wrote two post-dates cheques for £20,000 and £18,000 to cover all potential losses, including errors and omissions.

“The postmaster is required to keep a note of the cash available and this count is reflective of Singh’s taking of twenty-five thousand pounds and altering a daily cash balance sheet,” said Mr. Henderson.

“He fully admitted his role at the outset. He said he had borrowed some money to take this business on and was repaying.

“Pressure was brought to bear and he succumbed to this pressure.

“It was taken in a carrier bag to a family friend who he owed the money,” added Mr. Henderson.

Singh was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to perform 150 hours community service and pay £1,448 costs.