Salesman stole thousands from car dealership

A TRUSTED sales executive pocketed thousands of pounds from a car dealership in Cardiff in a bid to pay off his debts, a court heard.

Christopher Wilkins, 40, admitted stealing nearly £4,000 from his employer Sinclair Volkswagen by diverting money from clients and colleagues into his own personal bank account.

Speaking at Cardiff Crown Court, prosecutor Julian Greenwood said: “How he expected not to be detected, one cannot imagine.”

The court heard Wilkins was employed as a sales executive at the car dealership on East Tyndall Street in 2015.

Mr Greenwood said: “Irregularities were noticed at the end of that year.”

He said one of the defendant’s colleagues – an “innocent party” – bought two vans in November 2015, with Wilkins handling the sale.

The court heard the buyer paid £2,630 on his bank card and £2,620 in cash.

Mr Greenwood said: “This defendant never presented the cash to the accounts department.”

He added Wilkins claimed he had taken the money home by mistake and lost it.

Prosecutors said on other occasions, the defendant pocketed money he was supposed to be refunding.

The court heard Wilkins paid £341.56 into his own bank account, which was an overpayment from a client.

He also took two £500 deposit payments from clients, who were due to be refunded.

Mr Greenwood said: “He paid those amounts into his private bank account.”

Wilkins was dismissed from the company following a disciplinary meeting in December 2015.

Judge Neil Bidder QC noted Wilkins made “unlikely excuses” during that meeting.

The court heard he stole a total of £3,961.56, but the company withheld his final pay check of £1,267.91.

Prosecutors argued there was a breach of a high degree of trust and responsibility.

Wilkins, from Pen-y-Bryn in Caerphilly, admitted four counts of theft by employee.

Rhodri Chudleigh, defending, stressed his client had no previous convictions.

He told the court the father of three took the money because he was in debt and has since expressed remorse.

Judge Bidder noted there was “significant personal mitigation”.

Addressing the defendant, he said: “You were a sales executive, trusted by your employers.

“You pocketed money in order to try to avoid your very substantial financial difficulties.”

He was handed a 27-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to comply with a curfew, as well as completing 15 days of a rehabilitation activity.

Wilkins, who is currently on benefits, was ordered to pay £2,694.35 in compensation at £100 a month.