Jail for engineer who stole £80k of parts

An engineer who embezzled more than £80,000 from his employers to fund his gambling addiction has been jailed.

Darren Morrison deliberately overordered parts and equipment while working at Inn Serve Ltd before selling the pieces as scrap metal.

The 45-year-old had been working at the firm, which specialises in beer and soft drinks dispense systems, between April 23 2017 and April 23 2019 when he stole the stock worth more than £80,000.

He then sold it all for less than £13,500 in an attempt to fund his gambling addiction.

But Morrison was caught after a routine audit flagged up the unusual overspending.

Fiscal depute Helen Treharne told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “As part of a routine audit in April 2019, the manager discovered that an excessive quantity of coils and other materials had been purchased.

“He identified the accused had ordered £81,274.15 worth of stock more than was appropriate for his job.

“The accused... admitted over-ordering stock and selling it... in order to fund his gambling addiction.”

Morrison, of Burnland Place, Westhill, admitted embezzling £81,274.15 worth of companyowned stock.

Defence agent Alex Burn said his client suffered from mental health difficulties and “accepted responsibility for the offence”.

Mr Burn explained Morrison was in debt and not in a position to repay the money.

Sentencing Morrison, Sheriff William Summers said: “The matter is simply so serious that it cannot be dealt with by anything other than a custodial sentence.”

He jailed Morrison for 14 months.