Catering manager stole nearly £22,000 from Sandwell College

Apr 1 2010 by Fionnuala Bourke, Birmingham Mail

A CATERING manager has been spared prison after stealing nearly £22,000 from Sandwell College to pay off debts.

Ian Sterndale, of Rowheath House, Northfield, Birmingham, stole the money from the education unit over a five month period, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. The 50 year-old, who was earning £24,000 a year at the college, admitted theft.

And Judge John Wait sentenced the dad-of-one to a 12 month jail term suspended for two years and further ordered to carry out 200 hours’ community punishment.

He also made Sterndale the subject of a six month curfew order between 7pm and 5am.

And told him that he would not even be able to venture into his garden during those hours.

Rhiannon Jones, prosecuting, said Sterndale started work at the college as a chef in 1998 and, in 2003, he was promoted to catering manager.

His theft was rumbled after the appointment of a new Director of Finance who discovered a massive shortfall between the sales of meals and the money banked when he checked the books.

Sterndale told police officers his stealing began two years earlier.

He said he was taking part of the daily takings at the college and he then falsified return sheets because of debts involving loans and credit cards.

Sharonjit Bahia, defending, said Sterndale had been “struggling” because of his financial problems and stressed: “There was no lavish lifestyle and he was not motivated by greed.”

She said Sterndale who had previous convictions for theft was full of remorse.