Former sub-postmaster awaiting sentence on £50,000 fraud charge

Aug 7 2008

A SUB-POSTMASTER defrauded his employers of £50,000 while working at Larkhall Post Office.

Derek Paton last week admitted embezzling the cash while working at the Union Street branch between November 2005 and March 2006.

He faces jail for the offence and is due to be sentenced next month.

The crime was discovered when an auditor was called in to look at the Post Office’s accounts.

The 44-year-old had originally been charged with embezzling £105,490.94, but his guilty plea to an amended charge was accepted by the Crown.

Paton – of Standburn Road, Auchinairn, Glasgow – had been responsible for all the branch’s cash.

Fiscal depute Jim Leck told Hamilton Sheriff Court last week that there were suspicions about the post office’s accounts, and an auditor was appointed to look at them.

The accountant found that the books did not balance.

Mr Leck said: “The auditor discovered that the amount of cash thought to be held by the office did not correspond with the amount in the office.”

Workers at Larkhall Post Office were interviewed after the auditor made his findings known.

Mr Leck explained: “As a result of this inquiry, suspicion fell on Paton.

“He had been on holiday but Post Office investigators contacted him and he was interviewed.

“He confirmed in the interview that he had taken money from the Post Office.

“Paton said he was wholly responsible and none of the staff in the shop knew about it.”

The fiscal depute pointed out that Paton gave investigators £190 from his pocket and has since made repayments totalling £3690.

Sheriff Danny Scullion deferred sentence on Paton until September 4 for social enquiry, community service and restriction of liberty order reports. Bail was continued meantime.