Carphone Warehouse worker who stole cash from phones receives suspended sentence (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Runcorn Carphone Warehouse worker admits fraud

4:21pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Hannah Bargery

A DEPUTY Carphone Warehouse manager has been handed a suspended sentence after keeping the cash from traded-in phones for himself.

Andrew Hughes, who worked at the Halton Lea, Runcorn store, was caught in July last year when head office reported five phones worth £1,200 were missing.

The 27-year-old, of Southampton Way, pleaded guilty to fraud by false position at Warrington Crown Court on Friday after stealing £5,891.24 between June 6 and July 7 last year.

Phillip Astbury, prosecuting, said: “The store manager found all five missing phones had been processed by the defendant.

“On further investigation he found the defendant’s girl friend’s account had been credited with more than £5,000.

“The defendant was suspended and admitted fraud at a disciplinary hearing and said it was due to financial reasons rather than a drug or alcohol addiction.”

Anthony Rose, defending, said Hughes was remorseful and ashamed.

He added: “The defendant has made arrangements with Carphone Warehouse to pay it back at £40 a month and will increase it when he finds employment.”

Judge Simon Killeen ordered Roberts to complete 150 hours unpaid work and gave him a five month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

He said: “You were a man of good character but you have lost that whatever sentence I pass on you.

“The punishment doesn’t end here as every job application you make you will have to disclose this conviction.

“It’s a substantial punishment to a man of your age.”