A WREXHAM fraudster who stole thousands of pounds from his former employer has avoided spending time in jail.

Matthew Harry, 38, of Bentley Place, appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, May 2.

He previously pleaded guilty to fraud at Mold Crown Court on March 28.

At that time, he was accused of committing the fraud by dishonestly obtaining money from Paul James Stanley Johnson between November 5, 2017 and April 28, 2018.

David Mainstone, prosecuting, told the court that this was a 'complicated' case due to one of the key prosecution witnesses having passed away since the offending took place and the complainant, Mr Johnson, now having dementia.

The charge against the defendant states that Harry committed the offence by creating bank transfers, writing cheques and authorising PayPal transactions for his own benefit.

Mr Mainstone said that Harry had been given a job by Mr Johnson at Goldilocks Cottage in October 2017.

It was said that he became a 'trusted employee' at the furniture shop and was eventually given more responsibilities.

Mr Mainstone said that, in January of 2018, Mr Johnson had flown to Thailand.

Whilst there, he had an alert to tell him that one of his business' bank accounts had become 'overdrawn'.

The complainant became suspicious of Harry and he was later dismissed from work in March of that year.

But, even after being dismissed, the defendant refused to give the key he had used for work back and even returned to the premises out-of-hours.

During that time, he made visa returns to his own bank account and was caught on CCTV entering the shop. The total amount sent over in transfers was £9,067.85, the court was told.

The locks were then changed by Mr Johnson in order to address the issue, the court heard.

During interview in June 2018, Harry claimed he was 'only paying himself what he was owed'.

Mr Mainstone told the court that Harry had previous 'dishonesty convictions'.

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Ember-Jade Wong, defending, said that Harry had carried out the offending during a 'period of desperation'.

Addressing Judge Niclas Parry, she added: "The man back in 2018 is a very different man to the one in front of your honour today."

She added that there had been no 'repeat offending' since and that Harry was someone who 'can and wants to be rehabilitated'.

Judge Parry described the offending as a 'rather unusual case' and a 'very serious breach of trust'.

Sentencing Harry, he added: "You are a thoroughly dishonest man."

Harry was sentenced to 16 months in prison, which was suspended for two years.

He will have to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and pay back the sum of £9,067.85 to Mr Johnson.