Mercy for dad who stole £46,000 from firm (From Daily Echo)

'Panic' might account for one case of fraud. But TWENTY FIVE??

This guy was in a responsible position which he abused badly. How many people reading this could earn £45,000 in six months without resorting to dishonesty?

And as for his children, what medical evidence did the court examine before granting mercy on the grounds of their condition?

As a former accountant, I have no sympathy for fraudsters which I freely admit. But accountants who commit it- lock em up and throw away the key 'pour encourager les autres.'

Not condoning what he did but..

How much was he paid? Perhaps Garmin should have been paying more?

Often it's the case that employees only steal at companies where morale is non existent and wages are below the average.

The guy obviously wasn't paid enough to support his family. Perhaps his employer should have been more supportive of his needs?

I do not agree with reduced sentences for so called extenuating circumstances at all one crime one penalty, no matter what their circumstances they know the law and they choose to break it. If an ordinary single guy done the same he would probably 3 years.

ohec wrote:
I do not agree with reduced sentences for so called extenuating circumstances at all one crime one penalty, no matter what their circumstances they know the law and they choose to break it. If an ordinary single guy done the same he would probably 3 years.

I agree. If a single person - or anyone without kids - had committed this, or any other, crime they'd be looking at a longer stretch. It should not be one law for one situation, and one for another. You commit the crime, you do the time, whether you're married, single, with or without children.
Children - and yes I do know they're the innocent party in these cases - should not be used as a 'get out of jail free card' or a reason for a reduced sentence.

S Pance wrote:
Not condoning what he did but..

How much was he paid? Perhaps Garmin should have been paying more?

Often it's the case that employees only steal at companies where morale is non existent and wages are below the average.

The guy obviously wasn't paid enough to support his family. Perhaps his employer should have been more supportive of his needs?

Pance you are having a laugh right? It's the company's fault for not paying him enough to support his family! Why not join the real world at some time you plank.

S Pance wrote:
Not condoning what he did but..

How much was he paid? Perhaps Garmin should have been paying more?

Often it's the case that employees only steal at companies where morale is non existent and wages are below the average.

The guy obviously wasn't paid enough to support his family. Perhaps his employer should have been more supportive of his needs?

I understand your point BUT people take jobs knowing what the pay is and there is never justification for theft. It's right to have some compassion for this guys situation with his special needs kids and I think the outcome of the money having to be paid back from the sale of his home is the right one.
HOWEVER... Now rather than Garmin paying for it we'll all be footing the bill for their housing and extra expenses out of our tax money, it seems like a lose lose situation.
I personally think that people should put off having families (particularly multiple kids) until they've sorted their financial situations out first.

Stillness wrote:

S Pance wrote:
Not condoning what he did but..

How much was he paid? Perhaps Garmin should have been paying more?

Often it's the case that employees only steal at companies where morale is non existent and wages are below the average.

The guy obviously wasn't paid enough to support his family. Perhaps his employer should have been more supportive of his needs?

Pance you are having a laugh right? It's the company's fault for not paying him enough to support his family! Why not join the real world at some time you plank.

he could have got a 2nd job like ive had to.no your the plank.

Stillness,agree with you, also the problem is non of us were in court for the full facts and we can only read between the line. Some people do desperate things when there back is against the wall. I cant make a comment on his sentence as I dont know the full facts + I wasnt on the jury. Have nice day everybody it is 35 centigrade in Spain at the moment.

I think that Garmin have lost their way on this one.

Name :Stillness
History : Specialises only in provocative and malicious posts.
Recommendation : Ignore.

some times a firms policies can create oppertunaty were else there normaly wouldnt be one! like the last cookie in the jar! who hasnt ever thought about taking it ? this man isnt a bad guy , he just gave into temptation! hes going to do his time for his crime so lets leave it at that!

Take a look at the reviews on glassdoorcom.

It gives an insight into true pay and conditions at most companies.

No sympathy, this is a big crime and the accountant abused his position and ripped off his company. Extenuating circumstances dont count, there are 100000's of people in hardship in Camerons UK!!

Typical reactionary and cold comments from the usual suspects on here, who wouldn't know a problem if it came and smacked them on the nose! of course the Court 'assessed' and did Court reports about the family situation you numpties!

Yes stealing is wrong, he's paying the price - personally I think prison has no place in this instance, just repayment of money but how is he going to get another job now? These families struggle to manage. As for saying people shouldn't have children until their financial needs are sorted - lol really? if you'd read the article he HAD got out of debt butif you were properly informed (not just reading the Daily fail where of course all children with special needs are fakers) then you'd know that the cost of having a disabled child is far higher. They always need care, i.e. they can't go to a childminder and need specialist care, into adulthood. You really don't have a clue do you.

I hope this dad can make amends with his family and that they all get through this. I hated reading this article, I don't condone stealing but feel great sympathy for him, as did the Court,who are qualfied to do so!

Three ways he would have avoided jail:
If he were a she.

If the business were the state.

If he agreed to pay back at a rate of £5 per week from money that the 'firm' continued to pay him.

I feel imprisonment was a bit harsh, according to this article he is selling his house to repay the monies.

What will happen now is his family will now claim benefits, so everyone loses out.

It is as much the Companies failure to allow this to happen for so long.

Now, had he have robbed a little old lady of her life savings, he would have had some sort of community service. Every day we read of persistent offenders who get a smacked wrist and walk free.

freemantlegirl2 wrote:
Typical reactionary and cold comments from the usual suspects on here, who wouldn't know a problem if it came and smacked them on the nose! of course the Court 'assessed' and did Court reports about the family situation you numpties!

Yes stealing is wrong, he's paying the price - personally I think prison has no place in this instance, just repayment of money but how is he going to get another job now? These families struggle to manage. As for saying people shouldn't have children until their financial needs are sorted - lol really? if you'd read the article he HAD got out of debt butif you were properly informed (not just reading the Daily fail where of course all children with special needs are fakers) then you'd know that the cost of having a disabled child is far higher. They always need care, i.e. they can't go to a childminder and need specialist care, into adulthood. You really don't have a clue do you.

I hope this dad can make amends with his family and that they all get through this. I hated reading this article, I don't condone stealing but feel great sympathy for him, as did the Court,who are qualfied to do so!

yes ive had hard times,but i didnt go and rob a bank,

Many people steal from their employers without realising, the odd phone call home, the odd pen they take home, the numerous hours spent socialising on facebook or The Echo website when they are supposed to be working.

I wonder how much theft has taken place from employers, whilst people think it's no issue?

S Pance wrote:
Not condoning what he did but..

How much was he paid? Perhaps Garmin should have been paying more?

Often it's the case that employees only steal at companies where morale is non existent and wages are below the average.

The guy obviously wasn't paid enough to support his family. Perhaps his employer should have been more supportive of his needs?

I've decided that I need a Porsche. I'm going to nick the money from the company I work for.

But as long as I feel I need it, it's ok.

redsnapper wrote:
No sympathy, this is a big crime and the accountant abused his position and ripped off his company. Extenuating circumstances dont count, there are 100000's of people in hardship in Camerons UK!!

Yes, I remember the day Cameron got into power, and we all went from being millionaires, to living on beans on toast, overnight.......

How can people sit there and make judgement on the man and his family when you don't know the full facts!!!! As the article said he'd got himself out of debt before having children and like someone else has pointed out having children with additional needs costs more to bring them up than normal. He was wrong to do what he did and i am sure he regrets his decision now but how desperate must he have felt to go to these lengths to try and protect his family. He is paying the price in prison and as the article says by selling the house. He is probably a good man who made a very stupid mistake and will have to pay for it for the rest of his life. Also no-one seems to comment on how his poor family are going to cope with the after effects of this. They are the victims in all this. Those children have lost a father for 6 months which for an autistic child is bound to unsettle them greatly. Also his wife has to cope with her own feelings as well as trying to look after the kids alone.
How can people possibly make judgement that they will be sponging off the benefit system. How do you know whether the wife is working or not as the article doesn't state this. There are always two sides to every story!!!! People should be more supportive of the victims instead of judging them!

Rhi Bennett wrote:
How can people sit there and make judgement on the man and his family when you don't know the full facts!!!! As the article said he'd got himself out of debt before having children and like someone else has pointed out having children with additional needs costs more to bring them up than normal. He was wrong to do what he did and i am sure he regrets his decision now but how desperate must he have felt to go to these lengths to try and protect his family. He is paying the price in prison and as the article says by selling the house. He is probably a good man who made a very stupid mistake and will have to pay for it for the rest of his life. Also no-one seems to comment on how his poor family are going to cope with the after effects of this. They are the victims in all this. Those children have lost a father for 6 months which for an autistic child is bound to unsettle them greatly. Also his wife has to cope with her own feelings as well as trying to look after the kids alone.
How can people possibly make judgement that they will be sponging off the benefit system. How do you know whether the wife is working or not as the article doesn't state this. There are always two sides to every story!!!! People should be more supportive of the victims instead of judging them!

Hey! Don't you realise there's a world punctuation shortage? Use it sparingly, please.

I feel sorry for this man. The forty six grand might of saved his marriage and family in the short term, but in the long term there may well be a whiff of divorce in the air. There are bankers out there creaming off bonuses from very dodgy deals - because they are slick. Because this man was plainly very thick he is going to have to pay more than dearly.

This article does not give a true picture of the facts. This family is suffering enough; this article and comments such as these create more emotional distress. The family should be not judged, his wife and children supported and
be allowed to rebuild their life. I'm sure they have a difficult road ahead and ultimately the wife and children are innocent victims.

Georgem wrote:

Rhi Bennett wrote:
How can people sit there and make judgement on the man and his family when you don't know the full facts!!!! As the article said he'd got himself out of debt before having children and like someone else has pointed out having children with additional needs costs more to bring them up than normal. He was wrong to do what he did and i am sure he regrets his decision now but how desperate must he have felt to go to these lengths to try and protect his family. He is paying the price in prison and as the article says by selling the house. He is probably a good man who made a very stupid mistake and will have to pay for it for the rest of his life. Also no-one seems to comment on how his poor family are going to cope with the after effects of this. They are the victims in all this. Those children have lost a father for 6 months which for an autistic child is bound to unsettle them greatly. Also his wife has to cope with her own feelings as well as trying to look after the kids alone.
How can people possibly make judgement that they will be sponging off the benefit system. How do you know whether the wife is working or not as the article doesn't state this. There are always two sides to every story!!!! People should be more supportive of the victims instead of judging them!

Hey! Don't you realise there's a world punctuation shortage? Use it sparingly, please.

Georgem - have you really got nothing better to do with your time than patronise people?! This poor family is suffering and you're making unnecessary comments like that.
I hope the family recover from this and have lots of support to help them through this tough time

Rhi Bennett wrote:

Georgem wrote:

Rhi Bennett wrote:
How can people sit there and make judgement on the man and his family when you don't know the full facts!!!! As the article said he'd got himself out of debt before having children and like someone else has pointed out having children with additional needs costs more to bring them up than normal. He was wrong to do what he did and i am sure he regrets his decision now but how desperate must he have felt to go to these lengths to try and protect his family. He is paying the price in prison and as the article says by selling the house. He is probably a good man who made a very stupid mistake and will have to pay for it for the rest of his life. Also no-one seems to comment on how his poor family are going to cope with the after effects of this. They are the victims in all this. Those children have lost a father for 6 months which for an autistic child is bound to unsettle them greatly. Also his wife has to cope with her own feelings as well as trying to look after the kids alone.
How can people possibly make judgement that they will be sponging off the benefit system. How do you know whether the wife is working or not as the article doesn't state this. There are always two sides to every story!!!! People should be more supportive of the victims instead of judging them!

Hey! Don't you realise there's a world punctuation shortage? Use it sparingly, please.

Georgem - have you really got nothing better to do with your time than patronise people?! This poor family is suffering and you're making unnecessary comments like that.
I hope the family recover from this and have lots of support to help them through this tough time

Suffering, my a**e, if you don't want to do the time, don't do the crime

Totton Tim wrote:

Rhi Bennett wrote:

Georgem wrote:

Rhi Bennett wrote:
How can people sit there and make judgement on the man and his family when you don't know the full facts!!!! As the article said he'd got himself out of debt before having children and like someone else has pointed out having children with additional needs costs more to bring them up than normal. He was wrong to do what he did and i am sure he regrets his decision now but how desperate must he have felt to go to these lengths to try and protect his family. He is paying the price in prison and as the article says by selling the house. He is probably a good man who made a very stupid mistake and will have to pay for it for the rest of his life. Also no-one seems to comment on how his poor family are going to cope with the after effects of this. They are the victims in all this. Those children have lost a father for 6 months which for an autistic child is bound to unsettle them greatly. Also his wife has to cope with her own feelings as well as trying to look after the kids alone.
How can people possibly make judgement that they will be sponging off the benefit system. How do you know whether the wife is working or not as the article doesn't state this. There are always two sides to every story!!!! People should be more supportive of the victims instead of judging them!

Hey! Don't you realise there's a world punctuation shortage? Use it sparingly, please.

Georgem - have you really got nothing better to do with your time than patronise people?! This poor family is suffering and you're making unnecessary comments like that.
I hope the family recover from this and have lots of support to help them through this tough time

Suffering, my a**e, if you don't want to do the time, don't do the crime

His wife and kids didn't do the crime though but their being made to suffer. People should stop their cruel comments and leave the family to get on with rebuilding their lives!

The above comments show EXACTLY why we have qualified judges making these decisions.

Oh....and by the way..... there is a very old book that contains a reference:
"let he who is without sin cast the first stone".
What a great honour for me to be in such virtuous company!