Heartless Barnsley thief stole over £14,000 from vulnerable victims

Sheffield Crown Court heard on December 3 how finance worker Simon Legge, aged 38, of St Paul’s Parade, Ardsley, Barnsley, siphoned the cash from five clients by llegally using payment cards and bank accounts.

Neil Coxon, prosecuting, said: “He was working for a trust organisation which effectively managed the finances of individuals and adults who had issues which meant they coud not have sole control over financial plans., The orgainstaion was Penderels Trust.”

Legge stole money from five victms between September 2015 and January 2018 and the total stolen was £14,290, according to Mr Coxon.

The court heard Legge claims to have paid the money back but Judge Robert Moore warned if it was discovered this was not the case Legge’s sentence would be increased.

Mr Coxon said Penderels Trust administered payments, usually from benefits, with money paid to Penderels and it was administered by pre-payment cards and money was withdrawn and placed into legitimate accounts held by clients.

Legge illegally set up second payment cards and used these to withdraw large amounts of cash and he set up illegally used bank accounts to transfer cash for himself from clients’ accounts, according to Mr Coxon.

Mr Coxon added Legge told employers some of the clients’ payment cards had been lost or broken and the defendant was issued with further cards which he used to make withdrawals for himself.

The court heard one victim was a blind and deaf man who had £5,880 stolen from him.

Legge admitted to police what he had done and said he had used the money to pay for bills, living expenses, housing improvements, a holiday in France and to clear credit card debts.

The defendant, who is of previous good character, pleaded guilty to five counts of theft.

Ruth Newnham, defending, said Legge suffers wth medical conditions and is undergoing repeated surgery. She added his father is seriously ill and at the end of his life.

Legge, who suffers with depression and anxiety, is also a carer for his parents, according to Ms Newnham.

Judge Moore jailed Legge for 14 months.