Cheat pocketed £14,800 NCT bus driver social fund
COMMUNITY ‘SHOCKED’ TO DISCOVER ACTIONS OF ‘PRIVATE’ NEIGHBOUR
A COMMUNITY has spoken of its shock after finding out a neighbour helped himself to more than £14,800 from the Nottingham City Transport Social Society.
Former bus driver Robert Crookes betrayed the betrayed the trust of other NCT workers when he was chairman of the social fund.
Employees of award-winning Nottingham City Transport (NCT) paid 30 pence per week from their wages into the society, which was run by employees to pay for social events throughout the year.
Crookes, previously of good character with no previous convictions, had worked for NCT since November 17, 2003, as a driver, becoming a radio controller in 2012.
He became chairman of the fund in 2014, but had been involved with it since 2007.
Crookes, 58, of Chesterfield Avenue, Gedling, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between April 1, 2016, and May 1, 2020, at NCT Bus Depot, Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham.
Crookes ultimately lost his job because of what he did.
His lawyer Kevin Waddingham insisted he was not dishonest from the outset but became enmeshed in a financial mess he could not disentangle.
Crookes’ neighbours said they were surprised to find out about his actions.
Many described him as a “private man”, who “keeps himself to himself ”.
The news shocked the community living on Chesterfield Avenue, including Rasa Kraujaliene, who said: “I am very shocked. Luckily I do not walk around here, I do not have friends and I do not speak to any neighbours here.”
The 53-year-old, who is selfemployed, added: “It is shocking. I always thought this area is nice.”
Melinda Ondo, 25, a carer in the area, said: “It is wrong. He has to pay for what he did. Instead of this, he walked out free, like nothing happened. I do not want him around here.”
Mum-of-one Katie Smith, 27, added: “I am just completely shocked. It is just something that you never expect to go on right on your street.”
Another neighbour, who wished not to be named, added: “It is surprising. I would not say I am shocked because there are probably worse things going on this street. It is not nice. We never suspected anything – why would we?
The fraud was exposed when, say the prosecution, Crookes was fully aware the accounts would not pass close scrutiny and he had delayed and avoided anyone else in the society access to tthem. No-one else was allowed access to his office but one colleague did gain access as suspicion grew.
Bins were overflowing with paperwork, said prosecutor Victoria Rose.
There was an application for a signatory to be added at Lloyds bank for that colleague, which had been requested, but it was ripped up. Receipt-keeping was virtually nonexistent. When Crookes realised the game was up, he deposited £11,487 into the account.
But by then the social fund was empty.
One society member said in a statement how important the fund had been to him in the 21 years he was a member. It gave him day trips with his family for years and was a great society to be part of.
He said members felt betrayed when the money went missing and they had been paying subs in good faith and they felt cheated by what happened.
Judge Stuart Rafferty QC imposed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, taking into account the delay since the offence and the fact that Crookes had started to repay the cash.
The judge ordered he pay the balance of £3,316 to NCT in full within the next 28 days.
After the hearing on Monday, Anthony Carver-smith, NCT’S head of marketing said, “The social society supports leisure, entertainment and activities for our colleagues to enjoy and relax outside of their work, such as the annual Christmas party and family day trips by coach.
“The sentence and Mr Crookes repaying the final monies owed back to the Society brings this matter to a satisfactory close and will allow us to organise further activities for his former colleagues, who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic”.
It is something that you never expect to go on right on your street.
Katie Smith