Manager of charity cafe stole takings

Sep 5 2008 by Hilary Clixby, The Journal

THE manager of a charity-run cafe plundered more than £5,000 takings in a seven-month fraud. Mark Owens already had a police caution for stealing cash from a charity when he began working for his new employer.

He came under suspicion after an audit at the B2G Diner, run by Sunderland-based Mental Health Care at Hailsham Avenue, Longbenton, North Tyneside, uncovered discrepancies, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Further investigations revealed that between September 2007 and March this year, no money from the cafe had been banked by Owens although he had submitted daily record sheets showing takings totalling £5,480, the court was told.

He was arrested and immediately admitted stealing the money, said Tony Glover, prosecuting.

"He went on to say that he had no paying-in books and simply kept the money at home and used it whenever he needed it for general day-to-day expenses.

"He said it was very convenient and that temptation had got the better of him. He had initially intended to pay the money back but things got rapidly out of hand."

Owens, of Mountwood, Greystoke Gardens, Jesmond Vale, Newcastle, was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment suspended two years with two years’ supervision after admitting theft.

The 40-year-old had been given a caution by police for stealing £800 from the Mental Health Matters charity in March 2006.

Recorder Christopher Batty told him: "People who steal from their employer should go to custody.

"This is the second time you have done this and it is compounded by the fact your employer is a charitable organisation and it is difficult to think of a meaner theft in those circumstances, and particularly sad that this is the second time you have been involved in something such as this.

"The fact that the sum of money involved is relatively low has saved you from an immediate custodial sentence today."

The judge said he would make no financial orders in Owen’s case because of his "difficult" financial circumstances.

Ailsa Macdonald, defending, said Owens, assessed by the probation service as being at low risk of reoffending, had been "robbing Peter to pay Paul" when he took the money.