Anthony Palmer stole over £121,000 of office supplies from bosses and sold them on the internet.
Sunderland Echo reports that 31 year-old Palmer, a former sales rep at The Donald Murray Paper Group in Boldon, north-east England, stole £121,177 ($194,676/€144,138) worth of ink cartridges, stationery and paper belonging to the company and sold it to unsuspecting buyers online.
Palmer reportedly set up a fake account with the company to order the supplies and entered his home address as the delivery destination for the stolen goods, with his actions spanning a 12 month period. His bosses became suspicious after noticing a large number of orders being placed by one company – one that he had set up himself.
The case was brought to Newcastle Crown Court, where Judge Roger Thorn QC sentenced Palmer to 16 months in jail.
While Judge Thorn commented that it was “a tragic case of a hard-working chap who led an impeccable life after a very difficult start”, he told Palmer, who pleaded guilty to theft: “You know I have to send you to prison today. All those people who are tempted, especially in difficult circumstances we are in financially for the last seven years, should know that if they steal from their employers in a position of trust, they face an immediate custodial sentence.”