A petrol station worker who stole nearly £18,000 to pay off debts has been spared jail.
Sajid Patel pocketed thousands of pounds in cash at a time over two months from the BP filling station in Ardwick, after wracking up £3,500 in mortgage arrears and business debts.
A Manchester Crown Court sentencing hearing heard Patel, who ran newsagents in Bury and Wigan town centres, had not informed his family or his new employers of the criminal proceedings.
When bosses at Euro Garages saw the story in the M.E.N. last month after Patel appeared before magistrates, he resigned after being told he would otherwise be sacked.
Patel, 39, was supported by his brothers in court as he was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
Prosecuting, Philip Dobson told the court that Patel, of Belmont Road, Bolton, was employed as manager of the station, in Chancellor Lane, and was in charge of finances. He said figures reported by Patel started to ‘trouble’ company bosses, and that money had gone missing.
From December last year to February Patel had been helping himself to thousands of pounds of the station’s takings, a total of £17,665.49.
Defending, Russell Davies said that it was ‘highly out of character’ for Patel, who has no previous convictions.
Patel has an offer of work from another company, and Mr Davies said the firm is aware of his conviction for theft.
And he has the support of his family, after previously keeping them in the dark about his offending.
