Bar boss must wait for fate
A Sunderland bar boss who stole more than £10,000 from his employer is still to learn his punishment after his latest court appearance.
Mark Hardy, 43, had been due to be sentenced at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court after helping himself to cash belonging to Amber Taverns, while running Vesta Tilleys in High Street West.
However, sentencing was adjourned until December 6, following submissions from Hardy’s solicitor Jason Smith.
Mr Smith referred to his own notes from the last court hearing and argued that District Judge Roger Elsey had ruled out a custodial sentence at that time.
However, this information had not been noted on the court file, so the case was adjourned by the bench to be heard by Judge Elsey when he next sits.
Hardy, now of Somerset Cottages,Silksworth,hadpreviously admitted theft, on the basisofthetotalamountbeing £10,441.
He left court wearing a mask and appearing to be giving the thumbs-up.
Prosecutor Lee Poppett said: “The witness in this case isMrStorey,theareamanager of Amber Breweries, who has responsibilityoverallforVesta Tilleys,alongwithanumberof public houses.”
Mr Poppett said: “There was a requirement to provide proof of all of the banking receipts.
“On October 24, Mr Storey received a text from Mr Hardy, informing him that he was away taking some leave at Haggerston Castle and that he could send a picture of the receipt.
“He did indeed receive a picture of a receipt for in excess of £7,000 but it was very blurry.
Mr Storey contacted the bank and was told no such deposit had been made.
The weekend’s takings of £7,259.24hadgonemissing,as wellasthefloatof£2,000,some previous takings of £1,182 and Hardy’sweeklywageof£1,500.
Inhispoliceinterview,Hardy explained he had taken the money to pay loan sharks.
The court heard on a previous occasion that Hardy had losthisjobasaresultofhisdishonesty.