Shrewsbury phone store manager, 26, stole more than £5,000 from his employer
A man who stole more than £5,000 from his employer after getting into financial difficulties has avoided a jail sentence.
Jak Wright, 26, was a branch manager at Carphone Warehouse in Shrewsbury when he took the cash.
Shrewsbury Crown Court heard he used two different methods to take £5,356. He either falsified returns made by customers, before pocketing the cash that would have been refunded himself, or created false trade-in deals.
Prosecuting, Laura Hobson, said he had held a position of trust in the company, where he had worked for about 12 months.
Wright, of Allerton Road in Sundorne, Shrewsbury, admitted one charge of theft by an employee between February and June when he appeared before Telford Magistrates in October.
The matter came to light after an internal investigation at the branch based at Meole Brace Retail Park branch in Shrewsbury.
Danny Smith, for Wright, said his client had tried to secure a well-paid job in order to repay the money.
Wright was ordered to serve a one-year suspended sentence, which would remain in place for two years, with a 20-day rehabilitation requirement.
He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, pay £2,500 in compensation, £150 court costs and a victim surcharge.
Sentencing, Judge Jim Tindal said Wright was a young man who had been given a huge amount of responsibility at the Carphone Warehouse.
He said: "You got yourself into financial difficulties. That explains why you did what you did, but it does not justify it.
"I don't expect to see you at court again. Make sure you stay out of trouble."
