Lincoln gambler diverted thousands from employer into girlfriend’s bank account, court hears
A gambler diverted thousands of pounds from his employer into his girlfriend’s bank account, Lincoln Crown Court was told. Sean Cann felt his contribution to the success of the firm was not being fully recognised despite being offered a stake in the ownership of the company. Brian Outhwaite, prosecuting, said that Cann completed a contract…
A gambler diverted thousands of pounds from his employer into his girlfriend’s bank account, Lincoln Crown Court was told.
Sean Cann felt his contribution to the success of the firm was not being fully recognised despite being offered a stake in the ownership of the company.
Brian Outhwaite, prosecuting, said that Cann completed a contract for his employer, HCG Heating Construction Ltd, but gave the customer the bank details of his partner for payment.
As a result the £8,000 that was due was not received by the company. Cann carried out two further contracts which he also diverted in the same way to his partner’s account. The court heard she had no knowledge of what was happening.
Cann also stayed in Premier Hotels around the country charging the bills to his employers without permission.
Mr Outhwaite said the overnight stays in hotels at places such as Chester, Leeds, Sheffield and Taunton cost the company £1,200.
Mr Outhwaite added: “When he was arrested he said he had a severe gambling habit costing him £300 a month and that was what had driven these offences.”
Sean Cann, 31, of Newland Street West, Lincoln, pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud on dates between February 2014 and March 2016.
He was given a 12 month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with 200 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 15 days. He was also ordered to pay £11,041 compensation to HCG Heating Construction.
Recorder Julie Warburton, passing sentence, told him: “Your employer trusted you and you have repaid them by stealing from them.”
Sunil Khanna, in mitigation, said Cann, who has no previous convictions, joined the company at a very junior level and during his time with them he introduced improvements which made the firm more efficient.
He said Cann was under stress after he and his partner discovered that the baby they were expecting was likely to have major health problems.
Mr Khanna said: “He felt there was nothing to look forward to and at that stage his gambling got worse.
“He can only apologise for his actions. He wants to pay the money back.”
He told the court that the baby was born in May but remained in hospital for the first eight weeks of her life due to her health.
Cann has since set up his own company which has built up “a decent turnover” over the last six months, said Mr Khanna.
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A local man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving after two pedestrians were injured in a collision with a car and three parked vehicles in Skegness.
Lincolnshire Police officers attended the scene after the collision between a blue Citroen Berlingo, the parked vehicles, and a man and a woman, who are both in their 60s, on Winthorpe Avenue shortly before 7pm on Friday, April 16.
The two pedestrians suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital. However, their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
A 63-year-old local man, who was driving the Berlingo, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.
Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage and anyone with information should contact them on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident number 389 of April 16.
Few people attended the second Kill the Bill protest in Lincoln on Saturday, as Extinction Rebellion activists stood alone on the High Street to campaign against a proposed policing bill that could make many protests illegal.
Activists from Extinction Rebellion Lincolnshire gathered at Speakers’ Corner to oppose plans for the latest Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which could curtail protesting rights if passed through parliament.
Extinction Rebellion were the main representatives at the protest. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Under the proposed bill, police officers will be given greater powers to put a stop to any protests, as well as determining start and finish times for them, and controlling noise levels.
A few stopped to talk with the protestors, but most just went about their day walking down Lincoln High Street in the first weekend that non-essential shops and beer gardens reopened.
The Lincolnite spoke to one of the rebels at the protest, to find out the reasons behind the march.
They said: “This draconian bill cannot go ahead, it needs to be taken apart and re-evaluted completely.
“People have been walking past us shaking their heads, but they don’t realise that it’s their freedom we are fighting for.”
The Lincolnite photographer Steve Smailes captured some pictures from the protest.
Signs were put up by the works at Speakers’ Corner on Lincoln High Street. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A 19-year-old man is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on the A52 on Friday evening.
The single-vehicle crash, involving a white Suzuki Splash, happened in the westbound lane of the A52 between Barrowby and Sedgebrook at around 7.20pm on Friday, April 16.
The driver of the car is now in hospital after suffering serious injuries, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Officers believe the driver had travelled from Grantham on the A52 at Barrowby before the crash.
Anyone who has dashcam footage or saw the vehicle before the incident is being asked to call 101, quoting incident 420 of April 16.
Alternatively, you can email [email protected], using the same reference in the subject box.
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