Oswestry contractor defrauded firm out of £14,000
A self-employed Oswestry contractor who defrauded a firm out of more than £14,000 has been told he must pay the cash back in full.
Carl Fixter stole the money from Chenery Enterprises, based near Chirk, and spent the money on bills and a holiday before saving the rest, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.
Mr Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting, said he worked as a contractor for Premier Windows & Conservatories – a branch of Chenery Enterprises – and stole £14,132.04 from the firm by submitting false invoices for refunds.
He said 31-year-old Fixter worked on a self-employed basis.
The fraud was detected last year and several transactions linked back to Fixter.
Mr Beardwell said he was interviewed in July last year and claimed the money had been paid into his bank account as a bribe.
He said: "He said he spent the money on bills, a holiday and kept some as savings."
The court was also told CCTV footage showed Fixter at the company premises when some of the transactions took place.
Mr Beardwell said, when shown the CCTV footage, Fixter admitted the man in the footage looked like him but claimed it had been doctored.
Fixter, of Monkmoor Road, Oswestry, pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud, dating back to between May and June last year, prior to his sentencing on Wednesday.
The court heard he had two previous convictions but neither of the offences were relevant as a pattern of offending to fraud.
Miss Debra White, representing Fixter, said he had admitted the charge at a plea and case management hearing and asked for credit to be given for his plea.
She said: "When he spoke to the probation officer he has taken full responsibility for the commission of this offence."
Judge Jim Tindal said it had not been clear why he committed the offence.
He said sending Fixter to jail would "kill off" the opportunity for him to repay the money he stole from the firm.
The judge said it would also deprive his son from being able to see him.
Judge Tindal added: "I think you should pay into that business every penny you stole."
Fixter was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
Judge Tindal also ordered him to repay the money he stole in full to the company.
