A FORMER employee of an accountancy firm has been jailed for defrauding the company and spending the money on cocaine, alcohol and online porn.
David Sterritt appeared at Belfast Crown Court today where he was sentenced on a single count of fraud by abuse of position.
The 33-year old, from Breezemount Close in Conlig, has been sentenced to nine months in jail and nine months on licence by Judge Neil Rafferty QC.
Sterritt admitted stealing a total of £116,252.10 from Baxterworld Limited between October 15, 2018 and August 16 2019.
The chartered management accountancy firm carry out financial services for a number of clients, and on August 5 2019 an employee of Baxterworld noticed an unusual transaction which they raised with a director of the accountancy firm.
This prompted checks which indicated other unusual high-value transactions which had been made by Sterritt.
When spoken to about these transactions, Sterritt claimed he had been in a rush when making them but was unable to provide back-up documentation on the payments.
An internal investigation was launched, and whilst it was initially thought that Sterritt had been the victim of an internet scam, it emerged he had used colleagues work accounts to make changes to accounting records.
Sterritt was suspended and was then sacked when he failed to turn up to a disciplinary hearing.
Over a ten-month period, Sterritt made a total of 39 fraudulent transactions totalling £116,252.10.
Sterritt later admitted that at the time, he was spending up to £2,000 a week on cocaine and alcohol. He also spent £7,000 on online porn including 'one-on-one' sessions.
Defence barrister Sean Mullan told Judge Rafferty his client had no previous convictions and Sterritt had taken steps to address his addiction issues.
The judge said he accepted Sterritt had no criminal record, had expressed genuine remorse for his actions and has lived a "positive lifestyle" since his arrest.
He also noted the amount involved and the loss to Baxterworld Limited, as well as the lengthy period of Sterriff's offending.
Imposing the sentence, Judge Rafferty told Sterritt "this is not just to punish you but to deter others".
- This article was amended on September 17
