Man who stole from city firm was a '˜conman'

Joseph Gardener, 33, of Broughton Street, Preston, was found guilty of theft against J and A Blinds, on Alsop Street, Preston, after a trial at Preston Magistrates’ Court which he failed to attend.

Gardner said he was working down south and had been unable to leave the job to attend court as he had “three kids and a mortgage.”

The court heard he 
continued to claim he had “lost” the takings.

Prosecuting, Tracy Yates said: “The defendant had asked for a blind for his own house and was told he could pay £60 at the end of the month.

“He also asked his boss if he could borrow £200 as he was having work done. His boss agreed.” She added: “He then got paid for a cash job to the tune of £796 and his boss never received that money.

“After the cash-in-hand job was given to him, the defendant rang saying his son was ill and he would not be in work.

“Suspicions arose when for a couple of days he said he was unable to come into work. His boss made inquiries and found he did have previous convictions.”

He was ordered to do 240 hours unpaid work and pay £1,175 compensation to the firm.

The case comes three years after he was caught tricking elderly people in Preston out of money, by pretending to sell and fit boilers on behalf of a legitimate firm where he was an office worker.