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Stafford bar worker stole £9,000 from hotel 'to give to his mother'

A bar supervisor stole nearly £9,000 from the hotel where he worked to give to his mother amid 'problems at home'.

Published
The Swan Hotel

Jack Edwards voided customer card transactions at the Swan Hotel in Stafford and pocketed the cash for himself, Cannock Magistrates Court heard.

At first the 21-year-old took between £10 to £15 a shift but ended up stealing up to £150 a time from the venue on Greengate Street.

Over ten months between August 1, 2016, and June 3 this year he took £8,940 in total.

But an internal investigation was launched involving trawling CCTV and the venue's accounts which revealed several discrepancies.

Edwards was confronted by the management on June 5 when he admitted what he had done and apologised but The Lewis Partnership, which runs the venue, sacked him.

Prosecutor John Barnett said: "He started taking money to allow his mother to move out because of problems at home.

"His mother did not know how he got the money and he never gave it to her, but he wanted to be able to give it to her if she decided to leave his father and move out.

"He started taking £10 to £15 a shift by charging customers for drinks, voiding the transaction and pocketing the money himself.

"Every time he went home he realised he was getting away with it. It got worse and he was doing it more and more and was eventually taking £150 per shift."

But university student Edwards who now works in a gym in the town, has been credited for his attitude since he was exposed.

He voluntarily attended Stafford Police Station when it became a criminal matter and repeated his admission while he also asked to speak to the owner of The Lewis Partnership in order to apologise in person.

Edwards has also already paid all of the money back that he stole.

Defending, Emma Ellis described the case as 'unusual' with the 'highest level of apology' she had ever seen.

The solicitor added: "He is a very young person who made a mistake, a very serious mistake.

"He has done everything in his power to try and rectify it and there is no doubt he will never appear before a court again but he has got to pay for this matter. A number of punishments have already taken place, including the loss of his good character.

"He is described by his mother as the perfect son. This has obviously come as such a blow."

Edwards, of Norfolk Way, Stafford, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft by employee but magistrates said their sentencing powers were 'insufficient' and committed the case to be concluded at a crown court at a later date.

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