Marilyn Parkes arrives at Shrewsbury Crown Court

A Shropshire businessman asked his bookkeeper to withdraw money from the business account before pocketing it himself, it was alleged in court.

David Perry, the company director at building firm Perry and Williamson, had asked Marilyn Parkes, of Albrighton, to take money out in small doses, it has been alleged at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Parkes, 59, of Loak Road, has denied four charges of theft totalling £314,207.10 from the Newport-based firm Perry and Williamson between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2006.

Parkes’ defence barrister Miss Jennifer Josephs, put it to Mr Perry under cross-examination yesterday: “This was another way to make money. You asked her to open another account.

“You knew she was transferring extra money because you told her to do it. You even left Post-it notes on her desk asking her to do it. She would withdraw money and give it to you, wouldn’t she?

“You can’t explain the truth because you know you’d get in trouble as well.”

But Mr Perry told the court he had not instructed Parkes to withdraw any money and had only become aware that she was doing so in 2006 when he noticed an unknown member of staff on the payroll.

He said: “She never gave me any cash. I always thought of Marilyn as a friend and a mother-like figure, so to be let down like that was very upsetting.”

The court had heard earlier that Parkes had allegedly created a fake employee by the name of N Gittings and was paying regular amounts into that account between January 2002 and December 2006.

Retired police officer Andrew McVicker told the court yesterday he had gone through Parkes’ bank statements and had discovered where much of the stolen money had been spent, including a £15,354.97 pay-out to Revenue and Customs.

Mr McVicker added that he had also gone through Mr Perry’s statements. He said: “Nothing was apparent that large sums of money had been paid into his account.”

The jury has heard that Mr Perry had to make 15 members of staff redundant in 2006 just months before the scale of the thefts came to light.

Miss Jane Sarginson, prosecuting, has previously said the firm had about 50 employees and sub-contractors in 2002.

She said Mr Perry “completely trusted” Parkes, who paid all wages for staff using a telephone system.

The trial continues.