Will I go to prison

[user1496147688]

Hi,
So I’m 19 years old and I got caught with fraudulent receipts.
So I created fake receipts, with stolen items on them. Then these items were returned by me and someone else. It would at least be £200 worth of this. I told them I had done it because they had CCTV of everything and it was so clear I couldn’t deny it. They called the police and said that the police would come to my house or call me soon which could be any day. Maybe today, tomorrow, weeks, I don’t know.
This is the first time I would be in trouble with the police, and I go to college.
Would I be sent to prison for this or what else would happen?

You've scuppered your chances of gaining employment where you have any opportunity to steal, which is most jobs, for a long time but not forever. The conviction or caution will become spent and you won't have to declare it.

In the meantime, study hard and get good grades, go on to Uni if possible.

CAB will offer legal advice but if/when you are arrested you'll be offered a duty solicitor paid for by legal aid.

Where do you put gt the idea the OP is "bright", GreenTulips.

When I worked for Smiths a security guard watched as a teenager came into the department, picked up a computer game then tried to claim a refund with a receipt from a previously bought game. Some people are just thick.

where do you get the....obvs.

You will lose your job and end up with a criminal record (but probably not prison for such a small amount of money) although you will have to pay the money back.

The criminal record will hamper you getting a job in the future as you have to declare any convictions when applying.

I hope you do face punishment of some description, firstly for being so stupid and secondly for being dishonest. Oh the irony in stealing for money but now you've lost your legitimate source of income. Sort yourself out OP.

bright lol

noones bright who steals from where they work-get used to manual labour its all your good for

not that theres anything wrong with it

It's not just theft. You've also abused your position as an employee to deceive your employer. I agree you won't go to prison for a first offence but you need some support. Can you tell your family?

I doubt you'll go to prison, you should do seeing as theft is a crime.

I hope the £200 was worth the criminal record and the difficulty you'll have finding work now. I certainly wouldn't employ a thief.

You wont go to prison so stop worrying about that. But dont do anything like this again. You need to think about why you did it etc and take steps to ensure it wont happen again.
Because its a low amount you might get a Community Resolution Order, where you have to compensate the shop.Or a Caution something like that.
You can go to Prison for crimes like this but its if you are a repeat offender etc.

Do you realise that most organisations you might want a professional career with (businesses, civil service, any organisation related to government like NHS, airports etc) will do a police check before you're employed?

Are you absolutely sure they called the police?

Either way, no, it's very unlikely indeed based on what you have told us that you will go to prison.

Highly unlikely you will go to prison. You will lose your job and have a police record. College pay dismiss you but if they don't, consider a career change, no one in business will trust you for a long time.

Own up, not just because you were caught, feel remorse for what you did and take responsibility. People will certainly respect that much more than your current attitude. You will be appointed an attorney, they will advise you.

Are you sure it was £200? Because surely it you and had it several times and someone else had worked with you and also returned things the amount would be greater?

Ring or visit your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau tomorrow, they'll explain your rights and what you can do next.

Ok, I think the OP realises that they have done something stupid. I think it highly unlikely you will go to prison. The best thing you can do is be honest and show remorse when questioned. You can move forward from this moment, it was a silly thing to do but it's done now and it's up to you how you let this shape your future.

When you get called to attend the police station you can ask for the duty officer to attend, so maybe best to mention this when you make the appointment to go in as it saves time and they can get one there ready.

If you are lucky you will get off with a caution. It will stay on your record forever, however it can be filtered out after 6 years if you were over 18 at the time of the caution.

It will appear on DBS checks until then.

If it's a first offence you probably won't go to prison. But you not only stole but also committed fraud with intention to deceived. However, it's quite a serious offence as you intended to defraud your place of work. So you stole goods from your workplace.. Then created fake receipts for them. Then tried to get a refund for them from your workplace. Not good is it. Whatever made you think you'd get away with this.

I know you said you did it for the money (obviously) but - can you explain a bit more?

Was it needing money in a desperation to pay rent or buy food kinda way? Or you're managing basics ok but stole to fund clothes or nights out?

Or something else like someone hassling you for money?

Just wondering why.

ilovekitcats I think you mean the duty solicitor, not the duty officer.

Also, despite all the scaremongering I have never known a privately owned business to ask for a police report as part of the recruitment process, you may struggle in the short to medium turn in some public sector roles and where you would be handling money although at some point the sentence will be spent and you will no longer need to declare it. You are obviously scared and you should be prepared that you may not get an entirely sympathetic ear here, the best thing you can do is as someone said, speak with citizens advice who will give you the facts in a non judgemental way.

You are going to end up with a criminal record regardless of any prison sentence, and this will mean a lot of careers will no longer be available to you, because an enhanced DBS check will show your conviction for theft.

What an idiot.

I don't suppose you'll go to prison. But you've fucked up your future prospects massively.

I don't know about anyone else but I get the impression that the OP isn't concerned or remorseful about what she did, she's more bothered that she got caught.

I think you need to really think carefully about why you thought this was ok in the first place and evaluate your life to make sure it doesn't happen again.

You're studying business, so one option for you is to become self-employed and have your own business, so that a criminal record won't stop you being able to work.

You do need to see this as a wake-up call, you're 19, doing things like this could have a really bad impact on your future. Think about why you did it, be honest with yourself and then tell the police the truth. Be honest and co-operative and make it clear that you're sorry. And obviously you have to realise you can't do this kind of thing again or it will get worse and possibly could lead to prison.

But, don't panic and get yourself in a state –you can move on from this and learn from it.

Yes, the scaremongering is not helpful. OP is a nineteen year old who has done something stupid. She is not the Kray twins. Her life is not over. She has ample time to come back from this and make something of herself.

OP spent convictions don't have to be declared in most jobs. You might have problems in some public sectors but you've definitely not made yourself unemployable. Just work hard in college and you'll be fine long term.