£6,500 missing from man's account

Karl Richardson, whose address was given as Rockfield House, Greengraves, Dundonald, appeared in court on crutches a day after he got married to answer a charge of the theft of 6500 from Paul Ross between May 1, 2006 and September 18, 2006.

The court was told that Ross had entered into an arrangement with Richardson to customise the Mitsubishi car. Defendant had a business in Ballymoney offering a customising service and the injured party provided him with his bank card and pin number so that he could obtain parts.

However, the injured party subsequently discovered that a total of 6500 was missing from his account and of that amount 5300 was taken without authorisation.

Defendant was arrested by police on suspicion of theft and in a statement admitted he had taken out money from the injured party's account and that parts had not been ordered.

A solicitor for Richardson said he was now unemployed and that given the timespan, his client admits he should have made some restitution.

Richardson, he said, had started a mechanical business and used the injured party's money to support the venture in circumstances when he was in difficulties.

"He robbed Peter to pay Paul and the business subsequently failed. He was not capable of managing a business," the solicitor said.

District Judge, Mr. Richard Wilson, said the matter had first come before the court in October 2006 and that defendant had paid nothing by way of compensation.

Turning to Richardson, Mr. Wilson asked: "What chance has Mr. Richardson of getting his money?"

Defendant: "He will have every single penny."

Mr. Wilson: "Here is a defendant who has singlehandedly failed to make the slightest effort over the last three and a half years since this case has come before the court to pay anything back. This was a distinct breach of trust and while the injured party was very foolish to entrust Mr. Richardson with his car and pin number that does not entitle him to make use of it to take that sort of money. I am obviously considering immediate custody. In your case warrants were required on three occasions to attend court."

Defendant: "I have had nothing but regret for this situation, for the court's time and for Mr. Ross's time. I just wish to make good on my previous actions."

Mr. Wilson: "I have no great optomism for restitution."

Mr. Wilson imposed a prison sentence of nine months suspended for three years and made a compensation order for 5300 warning defendant that if he defaulted within the period of six months he would spend time in prison.

Prosecution counsel revealed that the injured party had intended to invest the money lost in a new business, but had to abandon those plans. He also was said to have been involved in a serious road traffic collision and was now unable to work.