SHAME SHAME
JAIL FOR BOSTON TAXI FIRM MANAGER WHO STOLE HIS COMPANY’S COVID BOUNCE BACK LOAN
A Boston taxi firm manager who stole his company’s Covid bounce back loan to fund his gambling addiction has been jailed for 32 months. The Lincolnite reports that James Lloyd, 39, successfully applied for the loan on behalf of the firm and within days of the money arriving in the com- pany bank account he transferred it into one of his personal accounts. Lloyd turned to online gambling at the start of lockdown to boost his family income. He was trusted by the owners of Angels Taxis, Boston, and was a sig- natory on the company bank account and was given access to company bank accounts.
But his gambling spiralled out of con- trol and he stole over £140,000 to fund his habit.
Lucy Jones, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court: “From December 2018 up until the police became involved in
August 2020 the defendant spent over £208,000 on gambling websites. “On 19 May last year a £50,000 govern- ment bounce back loan was paid into the company’s account. Following that the defendant transferred £68,000 into his personal bank account. In effect the bounce back loan went straight into his own account.” The thefts came to light in the summer of last year after co-owner of the Angels Taxis, Toni Vines, loaned Lloyd
STRUGGLING GLASGOW CABBIE CAUGHT WITH 9,000 PILLS AFTER LOSING HIS JOB
A man who was caught with more than 9,000 Valium tablets “foolishly” accepted an offer to make cash. The Glasgow Times reports that Aaron Mills appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 11 May, after he was caught with the pills on January 20. The court heard the 24-year-old, from Dumbarton, was spotted as he entered a row of flats in Abbotshall Avenue by police. The fiscal depute said: “Police saw him leave [the flats] with a blue carrier bag which appeared to have some weight in it.
“He got in a taxi. Police stopped the taxi for a routine check and spoke with him. He appeared to be nervous. “When asked what was within the blue carrier bag, he stated ‘pills’.”
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The value of the pills was unknown; however, it was estimated it could be more than £4,000. Mills’s defence agent said his client “put his hands up” to the offence and pleaded guilty to intending to supply the class C drug. He said: “Having lost his employment he had for a number of years as a taxi driver and split from his partner, he was not only suffering from a low mood but struggling financially.” The court heard Mills had since found employment in a different field. He was sentenced to 140 hours of unpaid work – reduced from 200 hours on account of his guilty plea – as a direct alterna- tive to a custody sentence. Mills has one year to complete his sen- tence.
£5,000 to purchase a car. The money wasn’t repaid and when Mrs Vines checked the company bank account, she discovered thousands of pounds had been transferred into Lloyd’s account., Miss Jones said “Mr Vines called the defendant. He believed there would be an innocent explanation. “The defendant told him he would be round in the next half hour. Instead, he went to Boston Police Station and admitted to stealing more than £100,000 from his employer.”Mr Vines subsequently discovered bills had not been paid and a number of company cars had been repossessed. Co-owner, Julian Vines, in a victim impact statement, said he and his wife have been left in dire financial circum- stances as a result of Lloyd stealing from their firm.
He said: “Because of what James has done I have very poor credit ratings. It has been absolute carnage trying to pay back the debt James Lloyd has left us.
“I have bailiffs knocking on the door and debt collectors calling us. I’ll be paying this back for years. He was a man we trusted. I never doubted him. It’s like hell on earth.” James Lloyd, admitted the theft of £141,045 from his employer. He was jailed for two years and eight months. Judge Simon Hirst, passing sentence, told him “The effect of your behaviour has been devastating. They [Mr and Mrs Vines] have really suffered finan- cially as a result. “This is aggravated by the fact that you used Government money designed to get this company back on its feet in the grip of the pandemic.
“Plainly this is so serious that only a sentence of immediate custody can be passed.” Alex Upton, in mitigation, said Lloyd has since shown remorse and has sought help for his gambling addiction.
JUNE 2021
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