Jail for Paul Wyeth after stealing to fund gambling habit

Jail for Paul Wyeth after stealing to fund gambling habit
By John Hoskins Court Reporter

A FINANCE executive stole thousands of pounds from his employers when his online gambling addiction got out of hand.

Paul Wyeth was jailed after he frittered away three times as much as he earned.

In total the 30-year-old was said to have stolen more than £30,000.

Southampton Crown Court heard how after a six-month trial period in December 2005 Thierry Wine Services appointed him as a finance executive whose duties included paying invoices, preparing VAT returns and keying in bank statements.

In June 2007 he began stealing, taking cash from the importer’s euro and sterling account as well as petty cash.

Prosecutor Gary Venturi said it began with the theft of 50 Euros, which he recorded as bank charges.

“But he became more and more bold as it went on,” he added.

Wyeth was eventually trapped almost two years later when he went on holiday and a colleague was asked to carry out an audit of the company’s books in preparation for the following year’s budget.

Wyeth, of Gurnays Mead, West Wellow, admitted theft and false accounting.

Mr Venturi said the prosecution put the theft at more than £38,000 but defence barrister Keeley Harvey claimed it was not so high, although it was acknowledged it stood at more than £30.000.

Jailing Wyeth for 15 months, Judge Simon Foster branded his criminality as “startling simplicity” and he had perpetrated a serious breach of trust.

Ms Harvey described how his online gambling started with sums of £10, £20 and £30 but then took in trips to casinos.

“It became clear he was gambling three times more than he was earning without winning,” she said.