Newport bookkeeper set up fake payroll name
A Shropshire bookkeeper accused of stealing more than £314,000 from a building firm she worked for used a fictional name from a book she was reading to set up another account on the payroll, a court was told. A Shropshire bookkeeper accused of stealing more than £314,000 from a building firm she worked for used a fictional name from a book she was reading to set up another account on the payroll, a court was told. Marilyn Parkes, of Loak Road, in Albrighton, said she set up the extra account at Perry and Williamson, in Newport, because her boss, David Perry, told her to. She gave evidence in her defence yesterday at Shrewsbury Crown Court where she is charged with four counts of theft totalling £314,207.10, between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2006. Mrs Parkes, 59, said she opened the account in the name of N Gittings after being inspired by a receptionist in a book who was being "abused" by her wealthy city trader boss. The case continues. Full story in today's Shropshire Star
But she denies stealing money saying Mr Perry asked her to transfer cash to the account from the business funds before getting her to withdraw it for him.
A Shropshire bookkeeper accused of stealing more than £314,000 from a building firm she worked for used a fictional name from a book she was reading to set up another account on the payroll, a court was told.
Marilyn Parkes, of Loak Road, in Albrighton, said she set up the extra account at Perry and Williamson, in Newport, because her boss, David Perry, told her to.
She gave evidence in her defence yesterday at Shrewsbury Crown Court where she is charged with four counts of theft totalling £314,207.10, between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2006.
Mrs Parkes, 59, said she opened the account in the name of N Gittings after being inspired by a receptionist in a book who was being "abused" by her wealthy city trader boss.
But she denies stealing money saying Mr Perry asked her to transfer cash to the account from the business funds before getting her to withdraw it for him.
She said: "He asked me to pay money into my account and then withdraw the cash because he had not got any money. He always told me how much to transfer.
"I said you can't keep withdrawing a salary and having company money to pay for your things at home. I was telling him as a financial controller. He told me he was the managing director and that was my time not to say anymore. When I first started I asked David how much money to give myself as a salary and he said please yourself."
At a previous hearing Mr Perry said he had not instructed Parkes to withdraw money and only became aware she was doing so when he noticed an unknown member of staff on the payroll.
The jury heard in interview Parkes initially admitted theft, saying Mr Perry had treated her badly and she had taken between £35,000 and £37,000 as she deserved the money.
About 15 members of staff were made redundant from the firm in 2006 as a result of the financial situation the firm was in.
Miss Jane Sarginson, prosecuting, said Parkes was a "thoroughly dishonest" defendant.
Parkes' defence barrister Miss Jennifer Josephs said: "Mr Perry is at best a shrewd businessman and at worst a dishonest man. You cannot be sure Mrs Parkes stole the money. This is some sort of complicated agreement between the two of them."
The case continues.
By Sam Pinnington
