Sunderland man stole £24,000 from employer in three-month scam to pay off drug debts

A customer service worker who carried out a £24,000 fraud on his firm was collared when his "partner" tipped off his bosses.
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Kieron Gilbert had ordered and sent televisions, laptops and gaming consoles to empty addresses through his company so they could be picked up by drug dealers to settle his debt.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the three-month scam was uncovered when his firm received a phone call from a woman, who said she was his partner and informed them he had been stealing.

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Kieron Gilbert.Kieron Gilbert.
Kieron Gilbert.

Prosecutor Marc Atkins told the court Gilbert was employed by Pacifica Group Ltd in Houghton, a firm that repairs and replaces domestic appliances on behalf of insurance companies.

Gilbert was employed as a customer services advisor, who handled claims and arranged replacement goods to be delivered.

Mr Atkins said a Pacifica employee was contacted on February 1 last year about Gilbert.

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He told the court: "She got a phone call from a female, saying she was the defendant's partner.

"The female made accusations the defendant had been stealing from the company."

The court heard and audit was carried out as a result of the call and Mr Atkins added: "On 46 occasions between October 8 2019 and January 16 2020 the defendant arranged for good to be delivered to addresses in Sunderland, Chester-le-Street and Hartlepool. None related to genuine claims of customers."

The court heard the dishonest orders were worth a total of £23,913.

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Gilbert, who attended the police station voluntarily, admitted he had arranged for goods to be delivered to unoccupied addresses provided to him so he could pay off a drugs debt.

Mr recorder Darren Preston sentenced Gilbert to 13 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 160 hours unpaid work and rehabilitation requirements.

The judge said Gilbert's debt was "spiralling out of control" and added: "I accept you were, to an extent, used by your dealers, as it was their scheme and you were put under some pressure to do it."

Prosecutors have launched Proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize any assets Gilbert may have.

Tony Cornberg, defending, said Gilbert seemed to display "relief" at being caught and added: "The reality is it meant the people pressuring him stopped doing so."

Mr Cornberg said Gilbert no longer uses class A drugs and fears he has "ruined his life" through his involvement in them.

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