Gambler stole 13k from employer and 9k from car garage to play roulette – Stoke-on-Trent Live

Gambling James Pemberton has been jailed after he stole more than 13,000 from his employer.

And while he was being investigated for that offence the 40-year-old pinched more than 9,000 from a family-owned car garage in Hanley.

He admitted he fritted the money away playing roulette.

Now Pemberton has been jailed for 20 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

More court news here

Prosecutor Danae Larham said the defendant worked at Staff Line employment agency as an account manager for their contract with Sainsbury's.

Miss Larham said: "As part of that he had access to employees' personal and banking details.

"Between September 2, 2018 and October 12, 2018 he amended the bank details of the staff who no longer worked for the agency. He changed the bank details to bank details in his name, either his own account or accounts he had control of.

"He amended the contact details and their time sheets to suggest that they had been working, triggering payments which were paid into his own bank accounts. He did this to 13 employees. He received 13,119.44 of payments into his bank accounts or accounts he had control of.

"As a result of that Staff Line suffered losses due to National Insurance payments having to be made."

Staff Line became aware of the offending when an ex employee struggled to obtain benefits as he was told he was still receiving a wage from them despite leaving in August.

Miss Larham said: "Investigations found the defendant responsible for the payments made to himself."

The defendant went on to commit a second theft between October 29, 2020 and December 10, 2020.

Miss Larham said: "The defendant used a company credit card and stole 9,029.03 from a family run car repair garage.

"On December 10, 2020 the owner received a bank statement which appeared suspicious showing amounts that were lower than expected. He contacted the bank who said transactions using the company's handheld card machines in the form of refunds.

"The owner had never made a refund and his son had not. The only other person who could have made these refunds was the defendant. Whilst not employed there he had been visiting there since October 2020 as he was friends with the owner's son. He told them he had lost his job and was asking to spend time there as his wife did not know about his employment.

"He was never given permission to use the card machine. He held the fort while the owner and son were away.

"There were 14 incidents when the card machine was used, totalling 9,029.03."

In his interview the defendant said he used the money to gamble.

Pemberton, of Trentley Road, Trentham, pleaded guilty to theft by employee and theft.

Paul Cliff, mitigating, said the defendant's mental health played a part in his offending. He said: "It is clear there is some background in relation to mental health problems. He was also engaged in gambling at the time.

"He has been in the Harplands Hospital in the last 12 months and continues to receive treatment."

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Mr Cliff asked Judge Paul Glenn to consider suspending the sentence.

But the judge said the offending was too serious to be dealt with in any other way than an immediate jail sentence.

Judge Glenn said: "You were a trusted employee at Staff Line. As an account manager you had access to the personal and banking details of employees. Over a period of about six weeks you amended the details of some members of staff to a number of accounts in your name or controlled by you. Thirteen employees were involved. A little over 13,000 was paid over to you. The loss to Staff Line was approaching 15,000.

"You made admissions in interview. You said you were struggling with finances and you were gambling to try and make up some money.

"While on bail you committed the theft. You utilised the company's credit card machine to pay just over 9,000 into your account - a very significant sum for a family company.

"You had gone there because you had lost your job. In interview you said you gambled the money.

"You seem to have been driven by gambling. You were playing roulette. Your bank account is self-explanatory."

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Gambler stole 13k from employer and 9k from car garage to play roulette - Stoke-on-Trent Live