'Despicable' council worker sacked for stealing £5k worth of showers
A council worker was sacked after stealing £5,000 worth of showers from his employers which had been set aside for disabled and elderly people with extra needs.
Between June and November last year Darren Haywood took 23 Mira Advance Flex units from the Stores Building at Hawks Green Depot which belonged to Cannock Chase District Council and were due to be issued to housing tenants.
He has now been convicted and sentenced to a community order but authority bosses are angered the 38-year-old from Lupin Drive, Huntington, escaped a compensation order and are now pursuing civil action to reclaim the amount.
Haywood's stealing came to light after an audit revealed a small number of showers were missing and the matter was reported to Staffordshire Police.
As the investigation unfolded it emerged more units had been taken than originally thought. The total amount stolen came to £5,027.80.
Haywood was subsequently charged with theft by employee.
He initially denied the allegations but later changed his plea to guilty at the 11th hour as the case was heading to trial.
On Wednesday he was sentenced to a 12-month community order at Cannock Magistrates Court and must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.
Haywood was also made to pay £200 in court costs as well as a £85 victim surcharge although he escaped a fine.
Council leader George Adamson said: "This was nasty act which delays people getting these adaptations into their homes because they will have to be re-ordered.
"It was a mean and despicable thing to do.
"I am surprised and disappointed there was not a compensation order.
"This cost the council a lot of money.
"We are now considering taking him to civil court to get our money back.
"Thankfully these sorts of cases are rare. When this was discovered the decision was taken to suspend him and it was reported to Staffordshire Police.
"They initially only charged him with stealing a few showers but he later admitted taking more.
"He was sacked. We don't ant him if he's dishonest."
A council spokesperson added: "An audit carried out within the stores environment revealed a number of items which appeared to have been stolen.
"The matter was subject to internal disciplinary procedures and referred to Staffordshire Police for criminal investigation.
"The Council is satisfied with the outcome of the criminal proceedings and can confirm that this individual is no longer employed by the Council."
