Fraudster employee splashed £43,000 on sports cars and gambling after scamming company

Bradley Young, 23, of Silvester Road, Waterlooville, admitted his ‘abuse of trust’ while working as a purchase ledger at A D Williams Coachworks in Emsworth.

But despite the ‘sophisticated’ operation involving 26 transactions committed over a sustained period of time between April 2016 and November 2017, Young was spared jail.

Portsmouth Crown Court was told how Young’s greed showed no bounds as he even used bank accounts from those closest to him to transfer money - resulting in them being arrested before being exonerated.

Suspicion was aroused within the company after Young was caught on CCTV at service stations in Waterlooville making unauthorised transactions for petrol on a company credit card amounting to £1,600 for himself and friends.

After being quizzed by company chiefs over the payments, Young handed in his notice before being escorted off the premises.

This sparked a more detailed investigation. ‘There were suspicious invoices raised amounting to £41,220 with 20 transactions being fraudulent,’ prosecutor Martyn Booth said.

‘Invoices to existing clients for services not provided or made up customers were invoiced.

‘Instead of using details on the system, banking details were changed to different banks.’

He added: ‘The defendant was exposed as bank accounts where money was paid in linked back to him, such as his best friend and mum.

‘All those who had the finger of suspicion pointed at them were arrested before they were exonerated.’

Young also took advantage of a friend from work by using their security details before processing payments resulting in suspicions over her conduct.

But she was cleared of any wrongdoing. ‘It can’t have been me because I was on holiday,’ she said.

Young was arrested by police in January 2018 where he was asked about the unauthorised transactions but still sought to push blame on to others. ‘He admitted being responsible for 10-12 of them but said other people could have done the others,’ Mr Booth said.

‘He denied using login details and passwords of colleagues.’

Young, who admitted two counts of fraud, was asked about his lifestyle by police. ‘Despite his modest income he was driving around in flash cars including a Mercedes and an Audi sport with personalised registration numbers,’ Mr Booth said.

In total, the company lost out £42,820. The money has now been paid back to the firm through its insurance.

Defending, Edward Hollingsworth said Young ‘relied on the company’s finances to help him through’ after suffering with a gambling addiction.

Recorder Hannah Wilcox spared Young prison. ‘You abused your position of trust,’ she said.

But added: ‘You have no previous and are keen to repay the money and have taken positive steps to address your offending by attending counselling for gambling.’

Instead of immediate jail, Young was given 12 months prison suspended for 18 months.

He was also told to complete 80 hours unpaid work.

A confiscation order was also made.