Man bought luxury wedding items during £8,000-plus fraud against employer

Carlisle Crown Court

A man who bought luxury items for his wedding as part of an GBP8,000-plus fraud against a Carlisle truck dealer which he worked for to be sentenced by a judge next month.

Andrew Robert Dickinson, 38, pleaded guilty to a total of six charges when he appeared at the city’s crown court court earlier today.

One fraud charge states that he abused Kingstown-based Solway DAF’s chargeback scheme to make various purchases, including prosecco, a water feature and pool, by using the company credit card he had linked to his PayPal account.

These items, a previous court hearing was told, were for his wedding.

The charge sheet also states that Dickinson abused his position as parts manager to direct the production and sale of number plates without the authority of his then employer.

In addition, he used loyalty points from a company incentive scheme to purchase an item after his dismissal; abused a rebate scheme to buy car parts and tool kits; and bought tools and parts through the company for his own personal and business use.

While the prosecution assert that his fraud amounted to just over GBP12,000, Dickinson of Springfield Road, Carlisle, insisted that the total was GBP8,296.09, his barrister said.

The Crown Prosecution Service are to consider that sum, in view of the defendant’s admissions, in due course.

Dickinson’s offences were all committed between January 2017 and late August 2019.

Judge Simon Medland QC adjourned the case for a probation service background report, and listed the sentencing hearing for March 22.

Dickinson was granted unconditional bail in the meantime, and was told by Judge Medland: “All sentencing options will remain open in this case.”