A dad-of-four was jailed on his birthday after he swindled his employer out of more than £34,000 in order to meet his cocaine debts.
Robert Adamson turned to crime after his dealers made serious threats and his car was smashed up outside his home.
Adamson’s theft had an enormous impact on the small family based electrical contractors who employed him, putting at risk the jobs of the 25 employees.
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He pointed out he had only been working for the firm for four months before beginning his dishonesty, which spanned two months until he suddenly walked out on his job.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Adamson has no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty but the judge told him the only appropriate punishment was immediate imprisonment.
Adamson, who appeared in court on his 31st birthday, of Ackers Road, Woodchurch, Birkenhead, had pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
Chris Hopkins, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant had been employed by Hoylake-based SJS Electrical and Plumbing Contractors Ltd as office manager and his job involved ordering goods from suppliers.
But between September and December 28, 2019 he ordered goods from four suppliers and had them delivered to various locations or diverted them to other places and told them to use his own email address instead of the company one.
He said that it “was not clear whether the defendant was paid in cash or having money paid into his bank account” for the items he sold.
There were a total of 48 transactions between the beginning of September and December 18, 2019 involving a total of £38,299 and £7,130 was credited to his bank account.
Mr Hopkins said his bosses found voice messages on his phone, one relating to goods being delivered to his home and another relating to drugs.
Adamson left abruptly on December 18 and his dishonestly only came to light in January as invoices for goods were not payable for 60 days.
One of the SJS owners, Sam Sproston told in a statement of the “huge” impact the thefts had had on their business. He said: “It has caused massive stress and pressure on a small family run business.”
He said they had had to take out loans and payment plans to stay afloat and it had caused mental as well as financial pressures, adding: “If creditors had not been so understanding it could have resulted in immediate closure of the business.”
Mr Sproston described the defendant as being regarded as “a trusted and close friend” and they had supported him and his family and given him daily lunches and good bonuses.
Adamson's lawyer John Weate said his client could not recall all the transactions but was prepared to accept the information given to the court. He accepted at least £34,000 worth were fraudulently ordered by him.
His downfall began after “he began using cocaine recreationally but he still led a productive blameless life.”
Mr Weate added: "His drug use developed into a habit, a serious habit, which he was able to mask for some time because he was earning good money and could afford it. But as often happens in cases like this the defendant’s use of Class A drugs escalated, he got into debt and threats were made.
“His solution to get himself out of the problem was to turn himself to the activities that led him before the court which he now bitterly regrets. But he is man enough to say it is on his own shoulders and he has only got himself to blame.”
Mr Weate said Adamson had sought help for his drug problem but just swapped one addiction for another with alcohol but has since been able to reduce his intake.
Mr Weate said: “He is in a far better place through the efforts he has made and knows he not only let himself down but is aware of the effect it has had on his wife and family."
Jailing him for 16 months Judge Andrew Menary, QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, said he had no doubt he had been under pressure and living a chaotic lifestyle because of his cocaine abuse and had been receiving serious threats.
He said: “While I am not unsympathetic to your position it was a position created directly or indirectly as a consequence of your own lifestyle choices. It provides an explanation for the difficulties in which you found yourself.”
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