£131,000 fraudster must repay £14,000 (From Daily Echo)
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Sandra Norris must repay £14,000 of £131,000 Asda fraud
9:31am Thursday 9th February 2012 in News
Sandra Norris
AN office worker, who ripped off her employers for more than £100,000, has been ordered to pay just a fraction of the cash.
Sandra Norris, 58, defrauded Asda by altering shopping vouchers and helping herself to the cash, which in part she used to buy goods from a television shopping channel.
Norris, who had worked for the superstore’s Totton branch for 20 years, changed vouchers used by shoppers to pay for their shopping.
Southampton Crown Court heard in October how she would sometimes double their value and take the difference in cash. It was her job to empty tills, cash up and then input the sums in the store computer system.
She was arrested following an in-house investigation about discrepancies in the store’s accounts whenever she was working. Police were informed and raided her home where they seized “an Aladdin’s Cave” of almost £80,000 in vouchers, some £6,600 in money and piles of unopened goods including perfume, alcohol, jewellery and clothing.
Norris, of Sutton Road, Totton, admitted one charge of theft of £700 and one of fraud by abusing her position of trust. She was jailed for 28 months.
She returned to the court for a confiscation hearing when Judge Peter Ralls QC heard she had benefited by £131,670 through her criminal conduct but her realisable assets stood at £14,394, which included goods to the value of £5,000 she had bought from the shopping channel.
The judge ordered her to pay that amount with ten months in default.
Comments(51)
Goldenwight
says...
9:47am Thu 9 Feb 12
eurogordi wrote:There are alternatives to prison for people with delusions who spend other people's money as if it were their own.
I used to work with Sandra at Asda and when this story first broke I was completely shocked. Unfortunately, she seems to have got involved with something that she couldn't stop ... and this became an addiction. Had it been alcohol or drugs she would have been placed in a rehabilitation centre. But because it was fraud to pay for a shopping channel addiction she was sent to prison. I can't condone what she did, but surely there are better alternatives than prison?
Unfortunately, we have all the MPs we need at the moment.
jammyswine
says...
9:47am Thu 9 Feb 12
Little Hitler
says...
9:48am Thu 9 Feb 12
freemantlegirl2
says...
9:49am Thu 9 Feb 12
hedge end bob
says...
10:02am Thu 9 Feb 12
eurogordi wrote:Can not believe you posted this. Are you saying it is alright to take what is not yours and expect nothing to happen to you for your actions?. What alternatives would you recomend....two weeks holiday in the med?, or maybe a nice criuse?.
I used to work with Sandra at Asda and when this story first broke I was completely shocked. Unfortunately, she seems to have got involved with something that she couldn't stop ... and this became an addiction. Had it been alcohol or drugs she would have been placed in a rehabilitation centre. But because it was fraud to pay for a shopping channel addiction she was sent to prison. I can't condone what she did, but surely there are better alternatives than prison?
Well UNFORTUNATELY it dont work like that, for the amount involved i think she got off very lightly. lucky i was not her judge.
Oh by the way you dont happen to have a little Bentley i could just take and use at my pleasure have you???.
hedge end bob
says...
10:06am Thu 9 Feb 12
freemantlegirl2 wrote:Your not married to Eurogordi are you????.
I agree Eurogordi, prison isn't the answer in this case. What she did was wrong of course but it was obviously out of control, the unopened goods is a good point as that's what shopping addiction is.... What a shame that no-one spotted it before it got so out of hand ...
Huey
says...
10:09am Thu 9 Feb 12
A face lift should have been high on her list of things to buy.
What an ugly dishonest thieving old bag.
HAHAHAHA
Lucius Curtis
says...
10:15am Thu 9 Feb 12
What message would that send out?
Let's all defraud Asda of £131k, knowing we'd only pay back 10% and not go to prison
She stole to feed an addiction. She is no different to a drug addict nicking people's TV
Brite Spark
says...
10:15am Thu 9 Feb 12
Huey wrote:That photo has put me off my breakfast.
She clearly spent no money on beauty treatment!
A face lift should have been high on her list of things to buy.
What an ugly dishonest thieving old bag.
HAHAHAHA
SFC1976
says...
10:19am Thu 9 Feb 12
Stillness
says...
10:28am Thu 9 Feb 12
Little Hitler
says...
10:28am Thu 9 Feb 12
SFC1976 wrote:Bang on, next we'll be letting the looters from last August off early as they were only stealing because they were addicted to shiny things.
That is the problem with this country we let these people get off to lightly she should have every thing she owns taken away from her and made to pay back every penny even if it took her the next 30 years. Problem is now she has been sacked she wont be able to get another job so it will be our tax money that will help pay her rent and buy her food so she can sit on her arse and watch TV. Yet again The dishonest scum in this country come out laughing.
For pity sake
says...
10:29am Thu 9 Feb 12
Stillness
says...
10:33am Thu 9 Feb 12
freemantlegirl2 wrote:I hope you don't do your shopping at Adsa because it's due to the likes of this woman that your shopping bill keeps going up. Do you think Asda are just going to say oh well, never mind it's only money?
I agree Eurogordi, prison isn't the answer in this case. What she did was wrong of course but it was obviously out of control, the unopened goods is a good point as that's what shopping addiction is.... What a shame that no-one spotted it before it got so out of hand ...
eurogordi
says...
10:48am Thu 9 Feb 12
And that is exactly my point! A drug addict is likely to be offered rehabilitation in preference to prison.
As freemantlegirl2 points out, the presence of unopened goods reveal an addiction and presumably some if not all of these good could be auctioned off to provide further compensation to Asda.
And if absolutely necessary, most shopping channels have a "no questions asked" return policy, so why hasn't that been mentioned or used?
elvisimo
says...
10:52am Thu 9 Feb 12
Brite Spark wrote:she could get a job in the Star Wars canteen
Huey wrote: She clearly spent no money on beauty treatment! A face lift should have been high on her list of things to buy. What an ugly dishonest thieving old bag. HAHAHAHAThat photo has put me off my breakfast.
hedge end bob
says...
11:26am Thu 9 Feb 12
eurogordi wrote:Still hav'nt told me if you have a Bentley only i have an addiction for them.
Lucius Curtis wrote "She stole to feed an addiction. She is no different to a drug addict nicking people's TV".
And that is exactly my point! A drug addict is likely to be offered rehabilitation in preference to prison.
As freemantlegirl2 points out, the presence of unopened goods reveal an addiction and presumably some if not all of these good could be auctioned off to provide further compensation to Asda.
And if absolutely necessary, most shopping channels have a "no questions asked" return policy, so why hasn't that been mentioned or used?
Little Hitler
says...
11:34am Thu 9 Feb 12
If she was let off this and sent to rehabilitation then we might as well get rid of prisons altogether as everyone would qualify for the same treatment, therefore leading to far higher crime rates as there is no real punishment.
She has commited an outrageous crime, FACT!
THEKILLER
says...
11:34am Thu 9 Feb 12
Ever week we hear of more cases when crime pays even 28 months in prison means she will be out in 9 on a tag.
Stillness
says...
11:43am Thu 9 Feb 12
freemantlegirl2
says...
11:49am Thu 9 Feb 12
Stillness wrote:No I don't..... and I still believe a long prison sentence wasn't appropriate... or even does any good... I prefer to listen to someone that actually knew her rather than a load of hysterical 'string em up posts' - and I don't have to be married to someone to agree with them, so not sure that's relevant. It's just an opinion, which I have a right to express - calm down LOL
freemantlegirl2 wrote:I hope you don't do your shopping at Adsa because it's due to the likes of this woman that your shopping bill keeps going up. Do you think Asda are just going to say oh well, never mind it's only money?
I agree Eurogordi, prison isn't the answer in this case. What she did was wrong of course but it was obviously out of control, the unopened goods is a good point as that's what shopping addiction is.... What a shame that no-one spotted it before it got so out of hand ...
Huey
says...
11:51am Thu 9 Feb 12
She sickens me
Frank28
says...
12:08pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Stillness
says...
12:11pm Thu 9 Feb 12
freemantlegirl2 wrote:So how long would you want as a punishment for someone if they stole £131,000 from you?
Stillness wrote:No I don't..... and I still believe a long prison sentence wasn't appropriate... or even does any good... I prefer to listen to someone that actually knew her rather than a load of hysterical 'string em up posts' - and I don't have to be married to someone to agree with them, so not sure that's relevant. It's just an opinion, which I have a right to express - calm down LOL
freemantlegirl2 wrote:I hope you don't do your shopping at Adsa because it's due to the likes of this woman that your shopping bill keeps going up. Do you think Asda are just going to say oh well, never mind it's only money?
I agree Eurogordi, prison isn't the answer in this case. What she did was wrong of course but it was obviously out of control, the unopened goods is a good point as that's what shopping addiction is.... What a shame that no-one spotted it before it got so out of hand ...
Shoong
says...
12:28pm Thu 9 Feb 12
It's not complicated, it's simple.
ohec
says...
12:52pm Thu 9 Feb 12
George4th
says...
1:03pm Thu 9 Feb 12
ohec wrote:Agree.
Some of these posts are disgusting, she has committed a serious crime and if you wish to comment on that fact by all means do but to comment on her appearance is out of order perhaps some of you should look in the mirror.
Big Mac
says...
1:09pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Stillness
says...
1:12pm Thu 9 Feb 12
soton-mike80
says...
1:13pm Thu 9 Feb 12
While I personally think the judge had this judgement correct. She is being punished and jailed for her stealing and is repaying a realistic sum. To have her repay all £131,000 is unrealistic as she is likely to never have earn enough money to repay it.
She has lost her job, and it is likely that she will not be able to get another job in a shop ever again - there is a realistic possibility that she may never be able to work again unless she is re-trained while behind bars.
I hope that the judge also ruled that she must also be given help to overcome her addiction and learn how to manage herself and her personal finances in the future.
In the middle ages she would have been put in the stocks and/or beheaded for such crimes - well we have evolved past the need to chop someone's head off and as for the public humiliation look at this message board! Enough ritual humiliation here to last a life time!
A crime is a crime and she is being punished - but not to the point where she is a lost cause and unable to be rehabilitated.
Big Mac
says...
1:21pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Huey
says...
1:27pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Totton Ric
says...
1:36pm Thu 9 Feb 12
bigfella777
says...
2:00pm Thu 9 Feb 12
ohec wrote:I do look in the mirror thank you and I am pleased at what I see.
Some of these posts are disgusting, she has committed a serious crime and if you wish to comment on that fact by all means do but to comment on her appearance is out of order perhaps some of you should look in the mirror.
This woman is so ugly she could turn Medusa to stone!
Another nail in the English workers coffin.
Gridironprince
says...
2:57pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Goldenwight
says...
3:19pm Thu 9 Feb 12
ohec wrote:Whilst I absolutely agree with you, there are some people who post here who obviously feel that the poor woman's appearance is in itself a crime, and I can understand their point of view.
Some of these posts are disgusting, she has committed a serious crime and if you wish to comment on that fact by all means do but to comment on her appearance is out of order perhaps some of you should look in the mirror.
Reality-man
says...
3:36pm Thu 9 Feb 12
loosehead
says...
3:37pm Thu 9 Feb 12
freemantlegirl2 wrote:Can't believe this.I was going to try to agree with you on a post but what the hell's this? She must have a problem so let her off?
Stillness wrote:No I don't..... and I still believe a long prison sentence wasn't appropriate... or even does any good... I prefer to listen to someone that actually knew her rather than a load of hysterical 'string em up posts' - and I don't have to be married to someone to agree with them, so not sure that's relevant. It's just an opinion, which I have a right to express - calm down LOL
freemantlegirl2 wrote:I hope you don't do your shopping at Adsa because it's due to the likes of this woman that your shopping bill keeps going up. Do you think Asda are just going to say oh well, never mind it's only money?
I agree Eurogordi, prison isn't the answer in this case. What she did was wrong of course but it was obviously out of control, the unopened goods is a good point as that's what shopping addiction is.... What a shame that no-one spotted it before it got so out of hand ...
When my house was burgled in Freemantle the little toe rags told the police they were sorry it wasn't anti me & they liked me but they needed money for drugs.
They trashed my house smashed my windows but hey they wanted drugs so they had a problem so let them off let them walk scot free.
Do you honestly believe this rubbish?
What would you say if you had a company & someone screwed you for this sort of money?
I know it wasn't their fault they have a problem so let them off & give them a pay rise?
She knew exactly what she was doing she had a minimum punishment & a fine not worth talking about what now?
she claims social so we actually pay back this money as it says nothing about a partner & who besides maybe you would employ her now?
Ali-Dia-Barmy-Army
says...
3:40pm Thu 9 Feb 12
bazzeroz
says...
4:12pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Huey wrote:That is not a very nice thing to say about anyone is it? She's someone's mother, wife, daughter but, you are right!!
She clearly spent no money on beauty treatment!
A face lift should have been high on her list of things to buy.
What an ugly dishonest thieving old bag.
HAHAHAHA
Boatman
says...
4:18pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Ali-Dia-Barmy-Army wrote:That is probably the most ridiculous of all the ridiculous posts in this thread. The prison population is higher than it has every been.
This is England 2012!!! Take what you like cos there is f e c k all chance of ever doing porridge
Ali-Dia-Barmy-Army
says...
5:45pm Thu 9 Feb 12
clausentum
says...
6:16pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Associated with that self-responsibility are consequences for all that a person does.
This adult is not reported to be suffering any form of mental impairment. Therefore, the consequences for her of behaving criminally, is social disgrace and punishment by a Court of Law.
Anyone can debate about the punishment imposed on her and if it was fair or just or unfair or unjust.
But I fail to see why anyone is promoting an argument that she is somehow not 100% to blame for her criminality, or that her criminal behaviour is some form of addiction meriting a different response from the Courts.
It is not complicated.
Her gender. Her choices about how she spent the money are irrelevant to the central fact she was dishonest.
Citizens who behave responsibly and run their lives within the Laws, can justifiably feel a sense of outrage by her behaviour and deem her punishment to be appropriate.
Too often, criminal behaviour by criminals is excused, condoned or minimised.
The focus on crime should squarely spotlight the plight of victims first and the impact on the criminal second.
Over the Edge
says...
7:32pm Thu 9 Feb 12
acid drop
says...
8:20pm Thu 9 Feb 12
jammyswine wrote:i think she needs the rest for a face lift when she gets out
Yes, pay it all back not just over 10%!
rabbitlady
says...
9:51pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Nobody has yet mentioned all her colleagues carpeted in the office for till shortages. She actually attended as a Union Representative at their meetings. Indeed some lost their jobs !
She didn't have any addiction, it was pure greed.
She is someone's wife but no ones Mother!
She has a house - sell it and pay back every last penny !
This is just an invitation for others to follow her act, go to prison and come out a rich person !
loosehead
says...
8:16am Fri 10 Feb 12
rabbitlady wrote:Thank You! there have now been three woman on here who have lied to the courts robbed their employers & got away with harsh or any custodial sentence.
Sandra Norris actually received 28 months, reduced to 14. She didn't live alone, so where are the other charges :- aiding and abetting, conspiracy to assist in concealing the offences, the Aladdins Cave couldn't be solely under Norris' control. £5,000 was the value of goods recovered, so her net repayment was only £9,000. The original estimated total was more than £131,000 but she agreed only to £131,000.
Nobody has yet mentioned all her colleagues carpeted in the office for till shortages. She actually attended as a Union Representative at their meetings. Indeed some lost their jobs !
She didn't have any addiction, it was pure greed.
She is someone's wife but no ones Mother!
She has a house - sell it and pay back every last penny !
This is just an invitation for others to follow her act, go to prison and come out a rich person !
I wonder if FM2 & people who think like her would still feel the same if they came face to face with the ones who were sacked?
solomum
says...
5:11pm Sat 11 Feb 12
THEKILLER wrote:She hasn't been let off, she has gone to prison. Unless you know the facts, don't judge.
Just off to do some shoplifting due to my addiction to food and clothes . I'm sure the judge will let me off as I had to do it!!!!
Ever week we hear of more cases when crime pays even 28 months in prison means she will be out in 9 on a tag.
loosehead
says...
9:20pm Sat 11 Feb 12
solomum wrote:so the people sacked whilst she represented them haven't been punished?
THEKILLER wrote:She hasn't been let off, she has gone to prison. Unless you know the facts, don't judge.
Just off to do some shoplifting due to my addiction to food and clothes . I'm sure the judge will let me off as I had to do it!!!!
Ever week we hear of more cases when crime pays even 28 months in prison means she will be out in 9 on a tag.
14 months inside & a small fine seems hardly a punishment compared to the humiliation of those who were wrongly sacked
bon1991
says...
4:32pm Sat 18 Feb 12
And I totally agree what she did was wrong and I personally think she deserved more then what she actually got
eurogordi says...
9:42am Thu 9 Feb 12