Drug user took boss's phone to send himself £8k

A Nottinghamshire labourer transferred himself more than £8,000 after logging in to his boss's online banking app.

Jonathan Topliss was working for a self-employed roofer when he watched his boss entering a four digit security PIN code.

The 37-year-old then used the number to make a number of transfers to his account.

Topliss, of Skylark Way in Clipstone, was handed a suspended jail sentence at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday.

Topliss had been on a four-day labouring job in March when he saw his boss logging on to his banking app.

After memorising the PIN, he found the phone unattended in his employer's van and sent himself a code to log in on his own device.

He went on to send himself £8,335.10 in a number of transactions.

The roofer spotted the money had gone and confronted Topliss, who agreed to confess.

Topliss – who Nottinghamshire Police said has 12 previous convictions for 27 offences including theft – told officers he had used the cash to pay off drug debts, built up by a £130-a-day crack cocaine habit.

Topliss pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He must comply with a six month alcohol treatment requirement and was given a four-month 21:00 to 06:00 curfew.

He must also undertake 10 rehabilitation activity days and pay £1,000 prosecution costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

The victim's losses were reimbursed by his bank.

After the sentencing, Sgt James Smith, who oversaw the investigation, said Topliss' "brazen" fraud had a "significant impact" on the business.

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