A north filling station manager has gone on trial accused of embezzling tens of thousands of pounds worth of tobacco and takings from vending and coffee machines.
Paul Martin, of Swordale Crescent in Bonar Bridge, denies embezzling £40,348 worth of cigarette stocks between September 22, 2004, and May 31, 2012.
He has also pleaded not guilty to embezzling £37,550 worth of coffee machine takings between 2006 and 2012 and a further £5,916 of vending machine takings.
Martin, 55, is also charged with obtaining a Nectar loyalty card by pretending to be the owner of Skiach Services in Evanton and obtaining £8,748 worth of goods and services.
During the first day of his trial at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday, a jury heard from former staff members of the filling station and another at Ashgrove, near Huntly, which are owned by Elgin based Gleaner Oils Ltd, and its area manager, Ian Fraser.
They recalled a day in March, 2012, when more than £20,000 worth of cigarettes were delivered.
Ex-forecourt attendant Janie Campbell, 50, told the court that she frequently ordered fresh tobacco stock amongst her duties and confirmed a number of invoices had been raised by her.
But she told the court of another order to the delivery company placed by Martin for £20,786.60.
She said: “That was not a typical purchase and I was not expecting it.
“There was nowhere to put them all. Some of the cigarettes – about half the delivery – went into Paul’s car. He said they were going to the Ashgrove, near Huntly.
“I was not happy about what was happening at Skiach. Things weren’t quite right and cigarettes were going missing.”
Mrs Campbell confirmed to Martin’s defence lawyer Willie Young that she didn’t get on with her boss. She added: “That is not why I formed the opinion that Paul took the cigarettes.”
The trial continues.
