Ex-director gaoled for ‘contemptible cheating’
A former Smethwick company director was sent to prison for a total of four years at Birmingham Assizes yesterday for what Mr. Justice Mocatta called “a contemptible form of cheating.”
The jury took 62 minutes to reach its verdict after a ten-day trial.
Ernest Orton, of The Village Stores, Morecombelake, Bridport, Dorset, pleaded not guilty to 15 counts that while a director of W. and J. Chatwin Ltd., haulage contractors, he fraudulently converted a total of £2,865. He also denied 15 further counts that with intent to defraud, he failed to make a full and true entry in the firm’s books.
He was sentenced to four years on 28 counts and three years on two counts, the sentences to run concurrently.
The Crown alleged that Orton diverted to his own pocket money paid to him as discount on the purchase of transport vehicles.
Passing sentence, the Judge said: “Some good will come out of this trial if it goes abroad that this sort of thing is not going to be tolerated by judges and juries.
“It is clear that you have been carrying on this course of conduct over a long period of years. You have appropriated for yourself on your own admission £12,000 and on the Crown’s case about £17,000.”
(Birmingham Daily Post, 16th July 1963)
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