Worker stole nearly £20,000 from West Bromwich firm
A machine operator who stole almost £20,000 from the Black Country firm where he worked has been given a suspended jail sentence.
John Partridge took 33 company cheques from West Bromwich-based Very Fastners Ltd, forged signatures and then cashed them in to help pay off his debts. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday that he stole £19,713 during his crime spree. Prosecutor Mrs Sati Ruck told the court that the offences happened between October last year and this June.
During that period, Partridge stole cheques and forged them to valuations of between £163 and £953.
He then exchanged them for cash at a cash-for-cheques firm in Cradley Heath. Partridge, of Lodgefield Road, Halesowen, admitted an offence of fraud by false representation against the firm, in which his father is a shareholder.
Mr Julian Harris, defending, said Partridge, aged 28, made full admissions as soon as staff at the Bromford Lane-based firm became aware of missing money.
Mr Harris said his client was being hassled for money by a drug dealer whom Partridge had helped to convict in 2009 when he provided a statement to the police.
Mr Harris said: "The drug dealer was jailed for 18 months and when released, he came for Mr Partridge for revenge. His car and house was trashed and threats were made against him and his family."
Mr Harris said his client took out loans to pay the money and then committed the fraud to cover the repayments. He added: "This man is trying to put his class A drug habit behind him."
Recorder Peter Cooke gave Partridge a 40-week jail term suspended for 18 months. He must also carry out 180 hours unpaid work and be under supervision for 18 months.
