A NORTHWICH man who admitted stealing more than £17,000 from his employers to fund a luxury lifestyle has been jailed for 10 months.
Karl Daniel Willis, of Spencer Street, told Chester Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday) he took home daily takings from In Store on Witton Street instead of cashing it with company bankers.
The 23-year-old, an acting duty manager at the home furnishing store, used the money to buy a car, jewellery and a holiday and made cash deposits into his girlfriend's account which she was unaware of.
He admitted 10 counts of theft between June and August 2004 which totalled £17,650. Another five charges of theft were ordered to lie on his file which would have brought the total amount stolen to more than £27,000.
Mark Connor, prosecuting, told the court: 'The defendant had been employed by In Store for about 10 months. He was responsible for cashing up daily store takings.
'On August 6 last year an internal investigation was started by the company which showed the company's bank had not received 16 payments between May and August. In total this amounted to more than £27,000.'
Willis was able to take the money because of a glitch in the computer system. Mr Connor said: 'It appears the Northwich store had some problems with the computer system over the time period involved. As a result the daily banking amount was not sent to head office.
'The company viewed a store video which showed the defendant had been responsible for banking money at the start of August and showed instead of putting seven bags in the safe he had only been putting in four. The defendant was interviewed and admitted stealing three bags.
'In addition the defendant's girlfriend was interviewed and told police he earned about £750 a month and was in debt. She also noted that from April, his lifestyle altered. She saw him with large amounts of cash and he had been buying her expensive presents. Items purchased included a car, jewellery and a holiday.'
Willis had also made four payments of £1,000 into her account which she was unaware of.
Willis was arrested at the shop on August 11.
Anna Price, defending, told the court: 'This was not a terribly sophisticated crime.'
Willis was told he had 'very badly' let the company down.
