Milford Haven News
Milford Haven building society worker stole from dead woman's account
11:38am Thursday 16th February 2012
A Milford Haven man who stole more than £8,000 while working for Nationwide building society - including cash from a dead woman's account - is facing a potential prison sentence.
Steven Philip Reynolds, aged 29, of Birch Mead, admitted stealing £540 belonging to Haverfordwest Nationwide building society, where he held a junior position, on September 13th, 2011.
He also admitted stealing £4,000 on October 5th and a further £4,000 on December 23rd from a dead woman's account.
The court heard that the fraudulent transfers were detected by a Nationwide fraud investigator, and Reynolds was arrested on January 4th.
Mark Layton, defending, said that Reynolds was a person of previously clean character, and that none of the victims had been affected.
He said: "Mr Reynolds has already lost his employment, and arrangements have been made to pay the money back.
"This incident occurred with a backdrop of extreme pressure of obligations passed onto Mr Reynolds by his employers, who were unduly oblivious of his physical position.
"At the time, Mr Reynolds was on anti-depressants and pain killers because of a serious back problem.
"But there is no doubt there was a breach of trust."
Mr Layton said that Nationwide had since recovered the losses of the account holders.
Magistrates, who accepted jurisdiction, adjourned the hearing for a full probation report to be prepared about Reynolds, before sentencing on March 7th.
The bench said that they were looking at all sentencing options, including custody.
Reynolds was released on bail, with conditions to fully co-operate with the probation service.