Jail for union fraudster who stole £54,000

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news ... -1-6174545" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A union treasurer from Peterborough who syphoned more than £50,000 from the coffers into his own account has been locked up by a Crown Court judge.

There were tears in the public gallery as Terence Spooncer was jailed for 18 months after he admitted stealing the cash from the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU).

Spooncer (59), of West End, Langtoft, Peterborough, had worked at the Royal Mail for 30 years, and had been treasurer at the Peterborough branch of the CWU since 1995, but was arrested in May this year after accountants spotted suspicious payments in the union’s books.

On Monday he was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court after pleading guilty to four counts of fraud, covering nearly four years up to November 2013.

Recorder Roger Harrison, sentencing, said: “You held a responsible position as branch treasurer. In that position you were able to divert funds into your account for a period of time a little short of four years.”

He added: “This was a breach of trust, and they were calculated, systematic offences.”

Spooncer was supported by friends and family in the court, and a number of them sobbed as he was led away to begin his sentence.

Hugh Vass, prosecuting, said: “The defendant set up a scheme where, rather than needing signatures from two of the treasurer, chairman and secretary, it only needed one.

“There were 180 separate payments into his account, and 124 into his wife’s account.

“The Crown accepts no-one else, including his wife, knew about the payments.

“In police interview he said he had no idea why he did it, but he did regret it.

“He said he would have continued to do it if he had not been caught.”

Ted Barr, defending, said: “He is the architect of his own misfortune.

“His wife and daughters will be the victims of the crime, as he will have to sell the marital home to pay back the money.

“He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, and there was full co-operation when he was detected. There is a low risk of re-offending.”

[Red Robbo]

Obviously the branch didn't have monthly meetings with a financial statement being produced ?

[dvbuk55]

I'm not the biggest fan of the CWU but this sort of thing can happen in any organisation where there are insufficient checks and balances in place. I sincerely hope that a lesson has been learned by the CWU and a greater attention is paid to ALL aspects of both national and local organisation.

[Red Robbo]

On another matter could they not take the money owed out of his pension lump sum ????

[Edward Hunter]

Im glad the greedy scumbag got some porridge and least he has to pay it back. An idiotic abuse of power. So much for the" union brotherhood"

[dvbuk55]

On another matter could they not take the money owed out of his pension lump sum ????

Unless he resigned from RM before the trial I would imagine he has lost his pension when he was fired.

[silly suffolk]

monthly finance committee meetings obviously left a lot to be desired. questions to be asked by wider union membership at this branch.

[fishtank]

monthly finance committee meetings obviously left a lot to be desired. questions to be asked by wider union membership at this branch.

Not just at that branch.
If £54,000 can go missing over 4 years and nobody misses it questions have to be asked all the way up to Tony Kearns as to what branches actually are spending money on and whether members really are getting any value from it. Branches are not social clubs for a few select individuals. Every penny a branch recieves should be invested in the improved representation of its members, not as in too many cases to provide "ginger beer and sandwich" outings for the inner sanctum.

[dvbuk55]

Every penny a branch receives should be invested in the improved representation of its members, not as in too many cases to provide "ginger beer and sandwich" outings for the inner sanctum.

Wow, now there's a novel idea! I've often thought that there could well be discrepancies in the finances because I've never seen any "books" for my branch, never been invited to a branch meeting or notified when one is about to take place. As for the inner sanctum scenario well every branch has had plenty of guidance from 150 The Broadway.

[redneck]

As has been said, if you have been involved in a union at a representative level as I have you will find a shocking lack of interest from those within in either holding or encouraging open branch meetings where officials can be scrutinised in any way by the membership. I was involved in one (not CWU) where I discovered the regional officer was booking the local Labour club for meetings every month, but notifying no-one in order to keep his position and substantial salary secure as possible by doing as little as possible.

[dvbuk55]

Just so and yet we constantly hear the old, old refrain - "get involved" where you've actually more chance of getting into parliament than get elected into the "inner sanctum" of the CWU - I wonder what lengths the full time branch officials will go to protect their cushy little number. I think that only the selected few get invited to the meetings and they never ever visit the delivery offices.

[Lincox]

I must admit that I was totally surprised that members did not have a monthly meeting. In a past life was a member of the NUIW which has now been incorporated into some other union. We had a monthly branch meeting and this involved a treasurers report which highlighted all of the funds returned to branch from the centre for such meetings and other expenditure. How can the CWU continue to exist in a system that does not involve and encourage it,s membership to get involved in the day to day issues that crop up within local sections and branches and if willing be proactive in strengthening the power and membership locally.

[dvbuk55]

I must admit that I was totally surprised that members did not have a monthly meeting. In a past life was a member of the NUIW which has now been incorporated into some other union. We had a monthly branch meeting and this involved a treasurers report which highlighted all of the funds returned to branch from the centre for such meetings and other expenditure. How can the CWU continue to exist in a system that does not involve and encourage it,s membership to get involved in the day to day issues that crop up within local sections and branches and if willing be proactive in strengthening the power and membership locally.

Is it any wonder members are disillusioned with the CWU. The fact that each and every members subscription pays for what is a comfortable existence for many within the union it's apparent that the CWU from top to bottom has become an autonomous organisation whose sole purpose is to continue as is without any concern for the wishes of the members.

[Red Robbo]

monthly finance committee meetings obviously left a lot to be desired. questions to be asked by wider union membership at this branch.

Not just at that branch.
If £54,000 can go missing over 4 years and nobody misses it questions have to be asked all the way up to Tony Kearns as to what branches actually are spending money on and whether members really are getting any value from it. Branches are not social clubs for a few select individuals. Every penny a branch recieves should be invested in the improved representation of its members, not as in too many cases to provide "ginger beer and sandwich" outings for the inner sanctum.

Good question FT, trouble is as a member when you start asking questions about where the monies going branch treasurers throw their "dolls out the pram" for being the object of suspicion.

[Lincox]

If you put yourself in a position such as treasurer you have to be absolutely squeaky clean. For every expenditure there must be corresponding paperwork to justify this as well as paper trail for all income. I am the main trustee for my nephews trust funds and deal with all financial and tax matters relating to the trusts. I know full well that I am accountable in law for the correct accounting practices. If this work is done on a regular weekly basis then it is not difficult to produce information when required such as at a monthly financial meeting. I would automatically flag up a problem if a financial officer was not providing regular supported documentation.