An engineer has been jailed after embezzling more than £80,000 from his employer to fund his gambling addiction.
Darren Morrison took advantage of his role within InnServe Ltd, a firm that specialises in beer and soft drinks dispense systems, and deliberately over-ordered parts and equipment, which he then sold as scrap metal.
The 45-year-old over-ordered stock worth more than £80,000 between April 23 2017 and April 23 2019, and sold it for less than £13,500 to finance his addiction to gambling.
But Morrison was caught after a routine audit flagged up the unusual overspending.
Excessive quantity of coils and other materials had been purchased
Fiscal depute Helen Treharne told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “The accused started working for InnServe Ltd in October 2015 as an engineer.
“His role was to source and install beer raising equipment in bars and restaurants throughout the north-east. He had a company vehicle and was authorised to maintain and order company stock.
“In 2016 the accused was provided with a new company vehicle which was fitted with a tracker system.
“As part of a routine audit in April 2019, the manager discovered that an excessive quantity of coils and other materials had been purchased on behalf of the company.
“He investigated further.
“On April 19 2019 he reviewed the accused’s job description sheets and order forms and compared them with other engineers employed in the same position.
“On reviewing these figures, He identified the accused had ordered £81,274.15 worth of stock more than was appropriate for his job in the period of the libel.
“The accused’s company car tracker showed the accused had entered Panda Rosa on numerous occasions during the period of the libel.
“On April 23 the accused was interviewed by management of InnServe Ltd whereby he fully admitted over-ordering stock and selling it to Panda Rosa Metals in order to fund his gambling addiction.
“He received a total of £13,491 from Panda Rosa in exchange for scrap metal.
“His employment was terminated as a result and the manager contacted police.”
Deep remorse for his actions
Morrison, of Burnland Place, Westhill, admitted embezzling £81,274.15 worth of company-owned stock by over-ordering beer raising equipment, which he sold to Panda Rosa Metals for £13,491.
Defence agent Alex Burn said his client suffered from mental health difficulties and “accepted responsibility for the offence”.
He added Morrison losing his mother at a young age was “something he has never really been able to deal with”.
Mr Burn said Morrison “expresses deep remorse for his actions” and was attending Gamblers Anonymous.
The solicitor explained Morrison was in debt and not in a position to repay the money.
Sheriff William Summers told Morrison: “This is a very serious offence. It involves embezzlement of the sum of more than £80,000 from your employers, with whom you were in a position of trust.
“In my assessment, 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.
This article originally appeared on the Evening Express website. For more information, read about our new combined website.
