Firm's Manager In £8,000 Rip-Off

A manager with joinery giants Howdens, who pocketed over £8,000 from the company in a refund scam, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence.

Scott Spencer, 29, of Aylesford Road, Beckenham – now a Royal Mail delivery driver – made a total of twenty-four separate refunds into three different bank accounts he controlled.

He pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates’ Court to stealing £8,108.17 between August 2009 and April 2010 while employed at the Sydenham branch (pictured) at Unit 2, Kangley Bridge Centre, Kangley Bridge Road.

“I do not know why you did this and I have a feeling you do not know either,” Judge Ruth Downing told the first-time offender at Croydon Crown Court where he was committed for sentencing. “You do not have a drink or gambling habit.”

Married Spencer, whose wife is expecting their second daughter in a month, was employed by the company for almost a decade and also worked at their branches in Beckenham and West Norwood as a depot manager.

Prosecutor Mr. Andrew Ramsubhag told the court an audit revealed the refunds on sixteen separate sales Spencer was involved in and the defendant immediately confessed when confronted.

He has fully compensated the company.

He was arrested on January 14, this year and charged on March 23.

Spencer’s lawyer Miss Lorraine Freeman told the court: “He has been incredibly frank with his admissions and made repayments in full.”

She said her client’s offending began during a stressful period after his mother’s sudden death, aged 55, and father’s subsequent descent into depression and alcoholism.

He also took care of his elderly grandparents and 15 year-old brother.

“It does appear to be out of character,” added Miss Freeman.

Judge downing told Spencer, who also has ambitions to be a black cab driver and is studying The Knowledge: “The corrupt act of taking a commission seems to have escalated.

“If you do this while employed by the Royal Mail you will receive an immediate custodial sentence.”

Spencer was sentenced to five months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and ordered to perform 150 hours community service.”