Spalding cleaner used ‘inside knowledge’ to steal charity cash from former employer in Pinchbeck

A sacked cleaner who used ‘inside knowledge’ to break into his former place of employment to steal more than £1,400 of charity cash was told he should feel ‘ashamed’ as he escaped jail.

Simon Gilbert, 43, was told the only reason he wasn’t being sent straight to prison was because he was the sole carer for his unwell mother and that if he returned to court he should ‘bring your toothbrush’.

Gilbert took a laptop valued at £500, £1,403 in cash and a charity snack box and snacks worth £20 from Pinchbeck firm Total Exotics in September last year.

He was traced when his DNA matched blood found at the scene at the Enterprise Way firm.

Prosecutor Shelley Wilson told Boston Magistrates’ Court that Gilbert, who had previously been employed by the company as a cleaner, entered the property through an unlocked door used as a fire door before making his way to an upstairs office which had an automatic door locking system.

“He smashed the enforced glass and used an internal switch to open the door,” she said.

“He left blood on the switch. Police found the blood was related to Mr Gilbert after a DNA hit.

“Policework also picked up a large piece of glass with fingerprints on it which was another DNA hit for Mr Gilbert.”

In police interview, the defendant said the blood could have come from a time he cut himself on a jet cleaner during his employment, which has been terminated five months earlier.

The court was told no accident report was ever recorded.

“There was no legitimate way the blood could’ve got there,” Ms Wilson added.

The prosecution told magistrates Gilbert – who has 36 previous convictions, 15 of them theft related – had a ‘significant history’ of offending and that he ‘utilised inside knowledge to his own advantage’.

“He was sacked and there was a grievance there,” she added.

Gilbert, of Thames Road, Spalding, pleaded guilty to burglary when he attended court on Wednesday (June 26).

In defence, Mike Alexander questioned why cash was being kept on site, to which Mrs Wilson explained they were ‘charitable donations by members of the public, rather than company funds’.

Mr Alexander explained Gilbert was living a ‘chaotic lifestyle’ at the time of the incident, when he found himself homeless and the sole carer for his mother, who was suffering from a brain tumour.

He added that Gilbert had no dependencies on alcohol or drugs, but that he couldn’t remember committing the burglary.

The court was told Gilbert was currently serving three community orders, two for unpaid work and another which included rehabilitation days.

Gilbert was handed a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay back the money.

In sentencing, magistrates told the defendant: “You knew about the business and burgled it, stealing money belonging to charity.

“You should be ashamed of yourself.

“If you find yourself back in front of the court for another offence you should bring your toothbrush with you as you will be sent to prison.

“It’s your mother that’s kept you out of prison. Don’t let her down again.”