A man who embezzled thousands of pounds from a city oil company has been warned he faces jail.
Andrew McCraw was found guilty after trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court last month of taking £8,434.80 from Swire Oilfield Services.
He had been working as a sales executive at the time.
The 36-year-old appeared back in the dock for sentence yesterday after Sheriff William Taylor adjourned the case for background reports.
But sentence was deferred again to allow McCraw to find a job and make some repayments.
Sheriff Taylor warned him that the offence he had been found guilty of was “extremely serious” given the amount of money taken and the period of time over which it was carried out.
He said: “This is a crime that carries a custodial sentence from six months upwards. I will defer sentence on you for three months to allow you to gain employment and make some repayments.
“I will then decide what the appropriate disposal is for you.”
The offence took place between December 15, 2012, and May 31, 2013.
During a two-day trial the court heard evidence from the HR manager at Swire Oil Services, Tracey Garden, as well as the firm’s former commercial director Sarah Davie.
McCraw gave evidence in his own defence.
Sheriff Taylor told the court on reaching his verdict: “I found the witnesses who were produced by the Crown to give evidence to be entirely credible and reliable.
“In contrast I found the evidence of the accused almost entirely unreliable.”
The court was told that McCraw, of 8 Hamilton Place, Aberdeen, was dismissed from his role as a key account manager on May 2, 2013, because of poor performance.
He had use of a company credit card during his time at the firm and after he was sacked he was asked to provide receipts for his expenses.
When the statement was checked there were a number of large cash withdrawals – including one for £1,000.
McCraw told the court he had not used company funds for his own purposes and also said that his weak points were “sloppiness and paperwork”.