Building society manager admits £120,000 thefts

A judge told 45-year-old John Farrer that his offending over a three-year period had brought the integrity of all decent bank staff into question and his crime was a complete betrayal of the trust placed in all managers.

"Without trust in our banks, our small banks and the branches in this area, there will be chaos," said Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC.

"Few will not say to themselves what is going on in my account if a bank manager, a branch manager, can behave like this.

"I question just how deeply you realise the damage you have caused."

But the judge said Farrer had been the "one rotten egg" in an otherwise highly respected local institution and he noted that it was the building society's own computer systems which had identified Farrer as the culprit before any customers became aware of the money being stolen.

Farrer, who admitted one count of theft, had worked at branches in the Leeds area before being promoted to branch manager at the building society's premises in Huddersfield in January 2005.

But between February 2007 and March this year Farrer, of Parklands Walk, Huddersfield, used his own computer number to make more than 330 withdrawals from 10 different accounts including one belonging to a 90-year-old man.

Bradford Crown Court heard that when Farrer was called in for a disciplinary meeting he arrived with a letter confessing to the thefts and he later sent texts to colleagues apologising to them.

When Farrer was questioned by police he explained that he had received an inheritance of 100,000 and that money had been used to fund a lifestyle which included expensive holidays and private education for his son.

But when that money ran out the family continued to live the same lifestyle and Rebecca Young, prosecuting, said Farrer had run up debts of 80,000.

The debt repayments amounted to 1,500 a month, virtually all of Farrer's monthly salary.

The court was told that after 123,709.56 was found to be missing the building society reimbursed the unsuspecting customers with interest.

Farrer also retained some of his final salary to offset some of the losses.

Barrister Alasdair Campbell, for Farrer, said the discovery of his unsophisticated offending had been a relief and a release for his client.

He said Farrer was clearly remorseful and his first experience of custody would be difficult for him.

Judge Durham Hall told Farrer that he had used his inheritance to maintain a lavish lifestyle and when that money was exhausted he he had continued his extravagance running up debts.

"They reposed in you a high degree of trust. They promoted you. Although not well paid in one sense you were in a secure and highly respected position."

He said Farrer had targeted accounts over a prolonged and persistent period.

"You did not simply bring a fine institution into disrespect you have brought the integrity of all decent bank staff into question in the eyes of the public," the judge told him.