A COAntrim man who racked up 480 fraudulent fuel card transactions amounting to more than £37,000 has been jailed.
Mike Ajala (28) from Burnthill Road in Glengormley, was handed a 16-month sentence after he admitted a single count of fraud by false representation.
Judge Patricia Smyth told him he would spend eight months in jail, followed by eight months on licence, after he appeared at Belfast Crown Court.
Ajala was a former employed by Yodel Ltd, and was given a company fuel card in November 2016. He left the company the following month but failed to return the card.
The matter was reported to police when a staff member noticed suspicious activity.
An investigation found the fuel card had been used fraudulently between December 2016 to January 2018. When interviewed by police in April 2018, Ajala made a full and frank admissions.
The court heard Ajala confessed to filling his own car, filling jerry cans and giving the card to friends to use. The total loss to Yodel amounted to £37,103.85.
Judge Smyth told Ajala: "You described yourself to police as being disgusted in your behaviour, but this was not your first offence for fraud."
She added his offending was committed "over a significant period of time".
