A LABOURER filled his car with almost £1,500-worth of fuel using his firm's petrol card "as an act of revenge" after a dispute with his boss.
Joseph Kennedy, 24, used the fuel card, belonging to Sunderland-based building and window firm PD Coyne, to pay for his own petrol at garages across the North East.
Kennedy, of Ridley Terrace, Hendon, admitted six charges of obtaining goods by dece
ption between September 18 and December 4 last year, and asked for 46 similar offences to be taken into consideration at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court.
Although he escaped a jail sentence, Kennedy, who started working for PD Coyne in February 2003, must pay back the money he spent without permission.
“The total amount of fuel relating to the deception was £1,439.41,” said prosecutor Catherine Nicholas.
Miss Nicholas said the deceptions took place before and after Kennedy left his job last October, following a dispute.
“He believed he was out of pocket and the fuel he obtained after he resigned was an act of revenge,” she added.
Miss Nicholas said Kennedy also bought tools from Ability Supplies and the Build Centre, and charged them to PD Coyne.
“He is utterly ashamed of his behaviour and it is completely out of character,” said Kennedy’s defence solicitor Kate Meek.
“This is a young man who has made a dreadful error of judgment and one he bitterly regrets.”
Miss Meek said Kennedy’s relationship with his boss ended very acrimoniously after a rent dispute between his partner and his employer, who was her landlord.
She claimed Kennedy’s wages were docked when rent was withheld, although it had nothing to do with him.
Miss Meek also said some tools Kennedy took with him to the job with him were not returned.
However, after the hearing Mr Coyne told the Echo he had not taken rent from Kennedy’s wages, denied withholding holiday pay, and said he supplied the tools.
Magistrates told Kennedy he was lucky not to be going to prison, and gave him 100 hours’ community service.
He was also given a one-year Community Rehabilitation Order, and told to pay compensation to PD Coyne.
In total, including the fuel, tools and court costs, Kennedy must pay £1,759.71 at £10 a week, or more if he gets a new job.
