IT manager stole £40,000 from employer to buy computer equipment

An IT manager stole £40,000 from his employer to buy computer equipment.

Paul McShane, 28, was caught after an audit revealed an overspend at IQA Elecnor in Glasgow’s Hillington in 2019.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard McShane was initially an apprentice at the communications firm in 2014 before he was promoted in 2018.

After the audit was carried out, the overspend in relation to orders placed and shipped was found to be at McShane’s home.

A meeting was held with McShane and the management of the business, where the invoices were shown to him.

Prosecutor Julianna Keenan said: “He was asked to explain why equipment, a large portion of which had no relevance to the company, had been delivered to his home.

“In total, £40,000 of equipment had been invoiced to IQA and delivered to his home.

“McShane tried to justify the orders by claiming that all the material was for business-related work and was on site or within the storeroom at IQA premises.”

The meeting was suspended for a short period for McShane to locate the equipment on the company premises.

After the meeting was reconvened, he was asked again to provide evidence and justification for the orders.

McShane was unable to provide an appropriate justification.

When a manager attempted to explain the seriousness of his actions, McShane replied: “Okay, I admit it, I’ve been stealing.”

He stated that he had been stealing from the firm for some time, and when asked to provide an approximate value, he replied: “In the region of 20,000, maybe more, maybe less.”

McShane, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, later handed £10,000 of the equipment to the company’s storeman.

He handed himself in to the police nine months later, and he was charged.

McShane pleaded guilty on Monday to a £40,000 embezzlement charge spanning between December 2018 and November 2019.

Ross Jenkins, defending, told the court that his client is a first offender and has no matters outstanding.

The lawyer added: “This was a serious matter with a significant value…custody will be at the forefront of your lordship’s mind.

“He is in full-time employment, and I ask that bail be maintained.”

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Sheriff Andrew McIntyre who granted McShane bail.