Sin Bin: Dundee building merchant embezzler facing jail

Jonathan Green was a sales manager at Grahams Building Merchants in Dundee when he carried out the year-long fraud.

He approached major clients and asked them to pay money into a new bank account to “help the company meet targets” and that they would “get a thank you”.

But in reality, the bank details given to the firms were for his own personal account.

Green later claimed he stole the money because of “financial difficulties”.

One plumbing company paid over £7763.94 in a single transaction to Green, unaware that they were falling victim to a scam

Fiscal depute Saima Rasheed told Dundee Sheriff Court: “They subsequently received further invoices chasing the sum.

“Another firm paid £65,622.44 in three separate transactions directly into his account.

“Inconsistencies in the paperwork were eventually found and he said he would sort it out.

“He later provided a handwritten letter of apology to the firm saying sorry for the way he acted.

“He has now fully repaid his employer.”

Green, 45, of Letham, Angus, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of embezzling £73,386.38 between August 1 2011 to July 27 2012.

Ross Bennett, defending, said: “Standing the amount initially involved this is a matter that is obviously going to be of concern to this court. The whole amount has been repaid. The last tranche was deducted from his pension fund.

“He is working elsewhere in a responsible job but whether that will be retained following these proceedings remains to be seen.”

Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC deferred sentence until August 30 for social work background reports.

She said: “It is a very serious matter given the amounts involved in this crime.”