Kidderminster salesman at car business stole £2,400
A car salesman fleeced the firm he worked for out of more than £2,000 by pocketing customers deposits, a court heard.
Lee Hutton stole the cash from his employer by handing out fake receipts before taking the money for himself.
The 38-year-old from Kidderminster was working as a salesman at Brindley Garages Group's showroom in West Street, Wolverhampton, when he stole a total of £2,480.
Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard how he took customers' deposits and gave them unofficial receipts, before registering their full payments into the company accounts.
He worked his scheme on five customers between April 30 and September 3 last year and the court was told he has yet to repay any money. He pleaded guilty to a single charge of theft.
Mr Omar Sadique, defending, said Hutton, of Sycamore Close, had told police in interview that he had committed his crime because he was in financial difficulty.
Mr Sadique said: "He is highly embarrassed. It is all to do with a relationship breakdown leading to financial difficulty."
District Judge Graham Wilkinson told Hutton his actions could have had devastating consequences for the business and his colleagues.
Hutton was given a community order with an eight-week curfew between 7pm and 6am. He was also ordered to pay back the full sum he stole and a £60 surcharge.
Hutton was sacked from his position with the company when his theft came to light.
