Smethwick works thief avoids jail

A thief who stole thousands of pounds from his employers has been told he is lucky not to be jailed.

David Colley, 40, of Florence Road, Smethwick, took £4,800 from Provident Personal Credit.

He admitted theft and false accounting and was sentenced by Warley Magistrates yesterday.

Kelly Hale, prosecuting, told how Colley was employed by Provident Personal Credit between January 2004 and October 2007.

She said: "His role was to contact customers with regards to the repayments of loans.

"What he has done is taken the money off the customers, but hasn't credited the money to their individual accounts."

Colley was sentenced to a 12-month community order, with 12 months supervision and 150 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £4,803.51 and costs of £60.

Magistrate Christine Ann Jones said: "You are very fortunate that we are going along with the recommendations made by the probation service.

"You could be facing imprisonment today.

"It is a very serious matter, theft from an employer and the betrayal of the trust placed in you."

Kirandeep Soor, defending, believed it was Colley's debt troubles led him to steal.