Man stole van and £8,000 of tools from employer
A man who stole a van and £8,000 worth of tools from his employer over a pay dispute has been ordered to give back the money after appearing in court.
Daniel Brettle, 30, from Windmill Hill, Cradley Heath, had been working for PEJ Construction, based in Bilston, for three months, where he was given a white Citroen Despatch van for work.
He was also handed £8,326 worth of tools to carry out jobs on behalf of the company.
He started having frequent days off and bosses grew suspicious about his activities. They then sacked him from his position and asked for their van back, but he did not return it.
In the days that passed after that, tools began appearing for sale on the Facebook Marketplace, with the seller’s name matching that of Mr Brettle.
Brettle, who appeared at Walsall Magistrates' Court on Tuesday for sentencing after being found guilty after trial, was visited by police on behalf of PEJ Construction and the van was found at his address without the tools.
Prosecuting, Mrs Maggie Meakin said: “His version of events is that he was keeping the van in lieu of money he was owed for work.”
The van was eventually returned to the company although the tools had to be replaced.
Defence solicitor Mrs Eleese Hatton said: “He still feels wronged by the company but accepts the court’s decision.”
Brettle was ordered to pay back £8,326 in compensation, as well as being given a 20-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
