Postman admits expenses fiddle

[POSTMAN]

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/914 ... es_fiddle/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A FOURTH Worcester man has admitted swindling thousands of pounds from Royal Mail by falsely claiming expenses.

Paul Savage, aged 31, of Eastbank Drive, Northwick, admitted 12 charges of fraud at Worcester Crown Court.

The court was told that he made false claims for 11,300 business miles between June 2009 and October 2010, amounting to more than £3,600.

Savage was granted unconditional bail to return to court for sentencing in the week of Monday, August 15.

Previously, the Worcester News reported how three other Royal Mail workers had been sentenced for their part in the scam.

Mark Adams, Wesley Chapman and David D’Amore were ordered to carry out unpaid work after admitting collectively claiming more than £6,000 in false travel and subsistence payments from Royal Mail.

Worcester Magistrates Court was told the three staff, who worked at Worcester City Delivery Office, had approached Savage, their operations manager, with complaints about unpaid overtime.

As a result D’Amore and Savage reached an agreement to reclaim the money by abusing the system.

D’Amore, aged 30, of Gillam Street, near Rainbow Hill, Worcester, subsequently received £4,081.65 in false payments.

He was given a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 240 hours’ unpaid work. He was told to repay all the money and £800 costs.

Andy Childs, defending D’Amore, said that his client had raised concerns about the 16 claims made in his name, but had let it continue.

Chapman, Savage’s cousin, falsely claimed £974.40. He had given Savage money for sorting out the payments. He was given a 12-month community order, told to carry out 120 hours’ unpaid work and pay £800 costs.

At the time of the hearing, Chapman had already repaid the amount taken.

Ruth Edwards, defending Chapman, said the 29-year-old, of Holland Green, Warndon Villages, Worcester, was owed overtime but had nothing to do with submitting the claims. He resigned when the fraud came to light.

Adams, aged 24, of Eastbank Drive, Northwick, Worcester, was not owed any overtime and was on leave for some of the days he had been paid for mileage, but later said he thought he deserved the money because of the “amount of graft” he had done for the company.

He was given a 12-month community order, and told to work 150 hours unpaid for falsely claiming £964. He must repay the amount taken and £800 in costs.

[POSTMAN]

Previous story...
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THREE former Worcester postmen have admitted their part in a £6,000 expenses fraud.

Mark Adams, Wesley Chapman and David D’Amore received £974.40, £964 and £4,081.65 respectively in false travel and subsistence payments.

Prosecuting for Royal Mail at Worcester Magistrates Court, Richard Wilkes said the trio worked at Worcester City Delivery Office, in Westbury Street.

Mr Wilkes said D’Amore agreed to receive overtime payment through bogus expense claims – something he agreed was wrong.

The other two were not directly involved in making the false claims but had received payments.

Andy Childs, defending D’Amore, said a total of 16 claims were made on his behalf.

He said D’Amore, aged 30, of Gillam Street, Rainbow Hill, had repaid all but £981.45.

Adams, aged 24, of East Bank Drive, Northwick, was on leave for some of the days he had been paid for mileage.

He later admitted it had been dishonest but said he thought he deserved the money because of the “amount of graft” he had done for the company.

Chris Hilton, representing him, said: “He only did 20 miles a day and almost 700 miles were claimed for.”

Ruth Edwards, defending Chapman, said the 29-yearold, of Holland Green, Warndon Villages, had since repaid all the money.

Chairman of the bench, Paul Denham, said all of them received the money and made no effort to put the matter right.

Each was given a 12-month community order and told pay £800 in costs towards the investigation.

D’Amore must carry out 240 hours unpaid work and pay the outstanding £981.45 in compensation.

Adams must work 150 hours unpaid and pay £974.40 in compensation.

Chapman did not have to pay any compensation as he had already repaid the amount in full, but was ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work.

Paul Savage, of East Bank Drive, Worcester, entered no plea to 12 counts of fraud by false representation.

He will reappear before Worcester magistrates on Thursday, June 23, when he is expected to be committed to crown court.

[stokes11eg]

Speechless!

[demon]

not that when we get ripped of for our overtime

[Lounge Lizard]

I thought the opposite was more common - can't get mileage authorised so put in the occasional hours overtime instead, not in the same league as our Worcester colleagues though.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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