Car dealer driven to theft (From Stourbridge News)

Car dealer driven to theft

2:45pm Tuesday 5th February 2008 in Local

A FORMER Stourbridge car dealer who pocketed company cash narrowly avoided a term behind bars.

Craig Parkes helped himself to £3,699 while working as sales manager at Brooklyn Ford's dealership on Birmingham Street.

On Tuesday February 5, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Parkes, aged 33, was under financial pressure which drove him to create false accounts after completing deals.

Recorder Rachel Brand QC told Parkes: "This was quite deliberate dishonesty over a period of a year, you have come very close indeed into going to custody for what was a serious breach of trust."

"This was clearly out of character bearing in mind what those who know you well say about you.

"For a man like you to have these hanging over your head for a considerable period of time is very significant punishment indeed."

Parkes fiddled £2,400 from Brooklyn Ford by creating false invoices and stole a further £1,299 through crooked car sales.

Rhiannon Jones, prosecuting, told the hearing Parkes sold cars to private individuals but created false invoices which showed the vehicles went to other dealerships and put the balance in his pocket.

She added Parkes also paid refunded monies due to the dealership into his own account.

Parkes of Aldermere Road, Kidderminster, admitted eleven charges involving the creation of false invoices and theft, he was given a ten month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He was further ordered to carry out 150 hours community punishment, pay £3,699 compensation to Brooklyn Ford and £1,181 courts costs.

Anthony Warner defending Parkes, who wiped away a tear as he left court, handed in a sheaf of references from friends and relatives testifying to his good character.

Mr Warner said: "He has continued to enjoy the substantial support of a large number of people, he is fully aware of the peril he has placed himself in.

"He is only too willing to repay the money."

Mr Warner said the crimes had cost the family man his good character.

The Recorder told Parkes, a man of previous good character, it had been two years since his arrest for the offences and, in that time, the matter had been hanging over his head.