Salesman stole from furniture firm to gamble

A GLENORCHY furniture salesman who stole nearly $10,000 at work, including more than $2000 he claimed was “inadvertently burned”, has narrowly avoided a stint in prison.

Matthew Paul Dodge, 33, was going through a separation and a bout of depression when he committed the crimes at the Glenorchy Affordable Furniture store between September 2016 and August 2017, the Supreme Court of Tasmania heard.

“You took up online gambling, got into financial difficulties, and started misappropriating money to pay bills and to fund your gambling,” Chief Justice Alan Blow said.

On 10 occasions, Dodge transferred the proceeds of EFTPOS payments by customers to his own account and stole cash on a further eight occasions.

One of the thefts occurred when Dodge stole $499 of $599 paid by a customer for a buffet and recorded the other $100 as a lay-by payment.

Chief Justice Blow said on one occasion Dodge stole $2320 in cash but “concocted a story about the money having been inadvertently burned after you took it home for safekeeping”.

His crimes came to light when a customer tried to pay off a balance of $150 owing on their lay-by.

The company’s computer system showed that $750 was owing, but the customer had a handwritten receipt for a $600 cash payment — which Dodge had stolen.

“You resigned from your job soon after that,” Chief Justice Blow said.

“It is clear that you now regret what you did.”

Dodge, who pleaded guilty to 10 counts of computerrelated fraud, eight counts of stealing and one count of inserting false data, was given a six-month home detention order.

He must also repay $6161 to Affordable Furniture and $2320 to Allianz Australia Insurance.