Sponsored by
Bookie burglar spared jail term
A GAMBLING addict who staged a £3,000 safe burglary at the bookies where he worked to cover his debts has avoided going to jail.
Michael Heath had worked at Chisholm Bookmakers, in Mulberry Rise, on Hartlepool's Bishop Cuthbert estate, for almost two years when he gambled away 1,000 in company credit in one day.
He then crept into the store in the dead of night to empty the safe of 3,240 so that his bosses would think all the money had gone missing in a raid and losses would be hidden.
The 20-year-old was sentenced at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court on Friday to a 12-month community order and 150 hours unpaid work for the burglary on August 9.
Howard Chisholm, managing director of the firm, said: "I am happy with the sentence and we think it is a substantial warning to anyone who feels they can abuse the trust of their employers and steal from them.
"We are also very grateful to the police officers who dealt with the case as their prompt actions quickly uncovered what had happened."
Heath was caught red handed as he used his own key and then personal code to deactivate the alarm, which were both recorded on the shop's computer system.
He later dumped the clothes he wore while breaking into the safe before heading back to his home in Cromer Court, Eaglescliffe.
Samantha Morgan-Baylis, prosecuting, said Heath quickly admitted to the offence and all the cash was found at his home by police.
David Dedman, mitigating, said: "I would suggest the majority of the punishment has already taken place.
"He has brought shame upon him and his family, he was arrested and has had to live with the fear of going to prison.
"He has also lost his good character, when he applies for jobs in the future it will be something that follows him."
Mr Dedman added that all the cash was returned to the store and argued that the 1,000 was not lost by the company as it had gone through their computer system without money being put in.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Hartlepool
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
