A British Rail booking clerk thieved more than pnd

A British Rail booking clerk thieved more than pnds stlg 5,000
from his Manor Park station office and gambled it all away.

In doing so he had tried to recover cash he had stolen just
days before, a court heard on Thursday.

‘Desperate’ John Merritt, 43, gave himself up after horses and
then dogs failed to provide him with a win to patch up his initial
theft.

Debt-ridden drinker Merritt had been under pressure at work
because of a barrage of complaints about disruption from leaves on the
line, Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.

Merritt, of Blenheim Road, East Ham, pleaded guilty to false
accounting in relation to a pnds stlg 552 annual season ticket and the
resulting theft of pnds stlg 5,150 from British Rail.

Jailing him for three months on each charge concurrent, Judge
Nicholas Beddard told him:
‘It is a very sad thing to see a man of your age and previous
good character standing where you are today.

‘This was a very serious breach of trust by you, a man of mature
years.

‘Imprisonment in such a case is quite inevitable unless the
circumstances are wholly exceptional.

‘I am afraid your drinking and gambling problems are not wholly
exceptional.

‘
The court had heard that on November 6 last year Merritt, who had
worked for BR for a year, issued an annual gold travel card costing
pnds stlg 552.

But he later pocketed the cash after making accounts entries
which simply did not tally, said Miss Sherrie Caddle, prosecuting.

‘On November 9 he removed a further pnds stlg 5,150 from his
booking office.

‘
Counsel explained how he first blew about pnds stlg 1,800 in a
bookies in East Ham trying to win enough to relace the amount from
his first theft.

‘He later lost the remainder of the money on the Walthamstow
dogs,’ continued Miss Caddle.

The following day Merritt told a colleague what he had done and
police were called.

Before detectives could quiz him he had to be treated at hospital
after taking a large dose of valium tablets.

In interview he made admissions to the offences and explained
that he had taken the initial sum to pay a debt.

Merritt said he intended to replace the money but when he
miscalculated the arrival of his monthly pay cheque he decided to sort
the problem out by gambling.

Mr James Shrimpton, defending, described Merritt as ‘something of
a loner’ who had been drinking heavily and gambling since he was a
youngster but had always avoided committing crime.

Counsel explained that he was faced with debts of pnds stlg 3,000
and pressures at work including ‘bearing the brunt of commuters
complaints due to disruption from leaves on the line.

‘
Mr Shrimpton added: ‘His was the act of someone who is
desperate.

‘
ENDS