Shop Manager commits nine counts of fraud

Sunday 15 September 2019

A 41-year-old woman, who worked as a Manager in a local clothes shop, has been given a suspended prison sentence for fraudulently stealing hundreds of pounds from her employer.

While working at Warehouse in the High Street, Beata Domanska falsely recorded a number of items, which had been bought by customers, as refunded and kept the money for herself.

She found the random purchases by looking through old receipts and would wait for the store to close before putting false refunds through the till and taking the cash.

Occasionally, rather than stealing money, the defendant would print herself credit notes which she spent in the shop. She also issued a refund to her bank account.

Overall, Domanksa faced nine counts of fraud, taking a total of £314.45 from Warehouse.

Pictured: HR noticed the crimes being committed on CCTV.

After launching an internal investigation into the losses, the company's Human Resources team noticed the crimes being committed on CCTV and checked the defendant's unique till log-in code, which confirmed her involvement.

In Domanska's mitigation, Advocate Paul Lockwood said the incidents were "utterly out of character" and explained how an unfortunate set of circumstances had left the defendant struggling financially. Despite noting that there are "always other options", the defence advocate said Domanska was "putting food on the proverbial table".

"She is mortified to be here," he added. "She is never going to allow herself to make the same mistakes again. There is never going to be another time."

Pictured: The defendant was sentenced in the Magistrate's Court.

On sentencing, Judge Philip Robey gave the defendant credit for her previous good character, with this being her first offence.

"You were finding times difficult but that should never be an excuse for doing what you did," he said. "You were in a position of significant responsibility. This was a planned course of action that you undertook."

With some uncertainty still remaining over Demanska's plans to remain in the island, the Judge decided to give her a four month suspended prison sentence rather than sending her to immediate custody. That means, if the defendant commits any other crime within the next two years, she will be sent to prison for four months on top of her new sentence.

A repayment scheme has already been set up with the store on a voluntary basis.

Warehouse was recently forced to close for a short while due to a lack of staff.

Pictured top: Warehouse in the High Street.