Accounts asistant defrauded employer to pay for wedding

An accounts assistant who defrauded his employer of over €14,000 to pay for his up-coming wedding has received a two years suspended sentence from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Stuart Mortimer, aged 34, from Sittingbourne, Kent but living in Herbert Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to two counts of defrauding Softco Limited, in Leopardstown, between August 29, 2002 and August 21, 2003.

Prosecuting counsel, Mr Roughan Banin BL, told Judge Desmond Hogan that Mortimer deposited cheques written by the company to a total value of €14,080.72, were meant as payment for invoices received, into his own account.

Mortimer left the company of his own volition soon after making the last such lodgement on August 21, 2003.

Garda Jim Mulligan agreed with Mortimer’s counsel, Mr Patrick Reynolds BL, that the offence was "very stupid" and that he had been fully co-operative when gardaí questioned him about the offences after receiving a complaint from Softco Limited.

"I’d like to say it is a relief", he told gardaí when he was arrested. He said the matter had been weighing heavily on his mind and said he would like to apologise to everyone he had lied to. "Not just my wife and child", he said, but also to Softco Limited.

Mr Reynolds BL said at the time Mortimer began lodging the company cheques into his account he was about to get married and was preparing for a big wedding. Shortly after his offences came to light he separated from his wife and moved back to England.

Judge Hogan also heard that Mortimer has once again found employment and, since February this year, has been paying Softco Ltd back in weekly instalments of €50 used.

Judge Hogan said taking every aspect of the matter into consideration, Mortimer did not deserve a custodial sentence. He suspended the two year sentence and bound Mortimer to peace and good behaviour for the next two years on his own bond of €500.