Lee Harvey Oswald Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/latestne...il/article.html AN investment banker and her husband have escaped jail after stealing more than £60,000 from a faulty cashpoint and using the money to live a "fairytale" lifestyle. Darren and Joanne Jones found themselves in the money after realising they could get free cash from the broken HSBC cashpoint outside Waitrose, in Billericay High Street. They discovered that anyone who had exceeded their overdraft limit could draw out cash without the machine registering the transaction. The couple, of MacGregor Drive, Wickford, went back again and again during nearly three months to drain the machine of funds – on one occasion making 12 separate transactions in just 40 minutes. In total they stole £61,400. Judge Christopher Mitchell, sentencing at Basildon Crown Court on Monday, said: "This was like something out of a fairytale for you. You put a bit of plastic in the wall and all this money came tumbling out with no record of it on your account. "You were very greedy and went back for more and more." Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said the fraud took place over an 88-day period, as Mr Jones, 33, and Mrs Jones, 29, spent thousands of pounds as well as depositing £2,500 in a savings account. The court heard they splashed out £608 on a luxury weekend away in Brighton, staying in the plush Hotel Du Vin and purchased Dior and Coco Chanel cosmetics. They shopped for Hugo Boss clothes and paid £9,000 in cash for a Chrysler Crossfire sports car. The couple were caught out when HSBC became suspicious of the losses and launched an investigation. The pair were filmed on CCTV constantly taking money out of the hole-in-the-wall and were arrested on May 27 last year. Police raided their home and recovered £27,340 stuffed in envelopes labelled holiday, car, clothes, kitchen and baby. Although the couple own three homes and earn a combined £65,000 a year, they had run up debts of around £34,000 on credit cards. Defending them, Jamas Hodivala said: "Although what they did was wrong there should be some sympathy or should I say empathy for the vulnerability of human nature and the frailty of the human mind." They pleaded guilty to obtaining the money in March and have been given nine-month sentences, suspended for two years. They will also have to do 250 hours of community service each. Mrs Jones has now been sacked from her banking job in Canary Wharf, but Mr Jones will continue his work as a builder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
interestrateripoff Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 He's only doing what his bosses are doing, although they get to raid the taxpayer for endless cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotoutintime Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/latestne...il/article.htmlAN investment banker and her husband have escaped jail after stealing more than £60,000 from a faulty cashpoint and using the money to live a "fairytale" lifestyle. Darren and Joanne Jones found themselves in the money after realising they could get free cash from the broken HSBC cashpoint outside Waitrose, in Billericay High Street. They discovered that anyone who had exceeded their overdraft limit could draw out cash without the machine registering the transaction. The couple, of MacGregor Drive, Wickford, went back again and again during nearly three months to drain the machine of funds – on one occasion making 12 separate transactions in just 40 minutes. In total they stole £61,400. Judge Christopher Mitchell, sentencing at Basildon Crown Court on Monday, said: "This was like something out of a fairytale for you. You put a bit of plastic in the wall and all this money came tumbling out with no record of it on your account. "You were very greedy and went back for more and more." Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said the fraud took place over an 88-day period, as Mr Jones, 33, and Mrs Jones, 29, spent thousands of pounds as well as depositing £2,500 in a savings account. The court heard they splashed out £608 on a luxury weekend away in Brighton, staying in the plush Hotel Du Vin and purchased Dior and Coco Chanel cosmetics. They shopped for Hugo Boss clothes and paid £9,000 in cash for a Chrysler Crossfire sports car. The couple were caught out when HSBC became suspicious of the losses and launched an investigation. The pair were filmed on CCTV constantly taking money out of the hole-in-the-wall and were arrested on May 27 last year. Police raided their home and recovered £27,340 stuffed in envelopes labelled holiday, car, clothes, kitchen and baby. Although the couple own three homes and earn a combined £65,000 a year, they had run up debts of around £34,000 on credit cards. Defending them, Jamas Hodivala said: "Although what they did was wrong there should be some sympathy or should I say empathy for the vulnerability of human nature and the frailty of the human mind." They pleaded guilty to obtaining the money in March and have been given nine-month sentences, suspended for two years. They will also have to do 250 hours of community service each. Mrs Jones has now been sacked from her banking job in Canary Wharf, but Mr Jones will continue his work as a builder. String 'em up and let them swing from the oak tree - thieving bast***s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Elk Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 He's only doing what his bosses are doing, although they get to raid the taxpayer for endless cash. But he stole it from an honest hardworking bank, rather than the greedy taxpayer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xux42 Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Defending them, Jamas Hodivala said: "Although what they did was wrong there should be some sympathy or should I say empathy for the vulnerability of human nature and the frailty of the human mind." They certainly had that in spades! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Executive Sadman Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I thought £60k was the kind of money investment wonkers spend on a botte of wine, hardly a lifestyle change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone_Twin Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Although the couple own three homes and earn a combined £65,000 a year, they had run up debts of around £34,000 on credit cards. Me and Ms. Ted earn more than that. No debts. Not one house though. Makes you sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoth Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 (edited) It begs the question as to what checks and balances the banks have in place? Surely on day one they would have realised that something was up? I'm mean you'd hope that they would have realised something was up on day one! Regards, Q Edited April 22, 2009 by Quoth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Taeper Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Me and Ms. Ted earn more than that. No debts. Not one house though.Makes you sick. Thats above national average earnings my friend. You could buy a property on that sort of money. Small, but you are better off than most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agentimmo Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 SHOCKING LENIENCY FROM THE COURTS. A few years back a gang smashed into an RBS atm in Edinburgh and got away with about 100K. They got quite a few years in the slammer. Sad to see that white collar crime still pays.......................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregG Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 I thought £60k was the kind of money investment wonkers spend on a botte of wine, hardly a lifestyle change. Be fair to them. They usually get several bottles for that amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone_Twin Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Thats above national average earnings my friend. You could buy a property on that sort of money. Small, but you are better off than most. True enough. I should count my blessings really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazuya Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Don't worry, these are the cashpoints of the future backed by the QE Bank of Britbabwe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime Realist 8 Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 It would be tempting, though, wouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nationalist Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Shoulda worn a hoodie while taking out the money. Mind you, I can't believe the machine wasn't recording the transaction at all. So actually shoulda worn a hoodie, hidden the cash, and claimed the card was lost or stolen months ago without them noticing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Generation Game Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 So £38k unrecoverable ill-gotten gains results in a combined 500 hours community service. That works out at £76 p/h, a damn lot more than their employment provided. Who says crime doesn't pay. :angry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazyPeon Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 hmmm i wonder how many people who are NOT bumbling idiots have done this and therefore not ended up in the news? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.