Sponsored by
Landlord made up armed robbery
A PUB landlord stole the weekend takings and then told police he had been robbed at gunpoint, a court was told.
Anthony Crossley, who was temporarily in charge of the Farmers Arms, on Highfield Road, South Shore, told police a man claiming to have a gun had snatched more than 3,500 while he was making his way to a bank.
Firearms officers and the robbery unit were sent to the scene following a 999 call.
But Crossley, who was angry after not receiving a bonus for taking on management responsibilities, had spun the lie to cover up his theft.
Police realised there were inconsistencies in his statement and it became apparent he and another man had taken the cash.
Crossley, 26, of Highfield Road, was sentenced to 48 weeks in prison, suspended for two years with two years supervision and an order to carry out 200 hours unpaid work after pleading guilty to theft and perverting the course of justice.
His co-defendant, Peter Durkan, 54, of Holyhead, who pleaded guilty to theft, was sentenced to 24 weeks prison, suspended for two years, with two years supervision.
Preston Crown Court was told police received an emergency call on October 13 last year from a member of staff at the Farmers Arms saying the temporary landlord had been robbed on route to the Post Office on Highfield Road. Crossley said he felt someone grab his shoulder and pull him into an alley.
Kirsten McAteer, prosecuting, said: "He said the man told him he had a gun. He felt something pushed into the small of his back. He said he was taken into an alleyway where the man pulled the rucksack off his shoulder and ran away."
But following their inquiries, detectives questioned Crossley again and he admitted the robbery allegation had been false and he had taken 1,500 of the cash for himself.
Miss McAteer added: "He said he had not received an expected bonus for taking on management responsibilities at the pub. He had therefore felt justified in stealing money from the brewery."
Crossley's barrister Michelle Brown, told the court his rapid promotion had happened when he was not fully equipped to deal with the responsibilities.
She said: "Perhaps he didn't think through the consequences of his actions as he should have done. He is very much ashamed and remorseful about what he has done.
"He took the 1,500 as money owed to him from the extra responsibility he had taken on."
Sophie Cartwright, for Durkan, said he had suffered the death of two children in the past, which had a tremendous impact upon him. He said he was approached by his co-defendant. Miss Cartwright said: "He spent 1,200 some of which he gave to homeless people."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blackpool
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
