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Original poster

Will I go to prison

215 replies

user1496147688 · 28/01/2018 15:12

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?

OP posts:
Bubbington · 28/01/2018 16:58

Will probably affect getting into USA and Australia should you wish to visit

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 28/01/2018 16:59

How does a till operator "create" fake receipts?

Leatherboundanddown · 28/01/2018 17:01

I used to work for a well known shoe shop chain and two members of my management team actually were caught and imprisioned for a similar scam. They were falsifying fake customer returns then processing cash refunds to themselves with the receipts.

The amount was much higher and was at least 20k between two people over at least 9 months but one served a year in prison and the other did two years.

A very stupid thing to do but the best thing now is just own up and be honest and just deal with the consequences of having a criminal record. It will make finding a job very hard. Are you planning on going to university after your course?

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 28/01/2018 17:02

Isn't there's disciplinary procedure for having your till short at cashing up time? I don't believe you've done this to the tune of £200 you don't sound bright enough

Original poster
user1496147688 · 28/01/2018 17:02

Yes Uni was what I was planning on doing

OP posts:
Original poster
user1496147688 · 28/01/2018 17:03

It’s slightly connected but the posts about my parents has been going on for years

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 28/01/2018 17:04

so what are you going to do?

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 28/01/2018 17:04

The posts about your parents? Hmm

Original poster
user1496147688 · 28/01/2018 17:07

I’ll explain it in a bit more detail. So the first time, I scanned a coat worth £50 and took the receipt from that and returned it
Then I scanned another two coats worth £25 each so £50 in total so that’s £100 so far of fake receipts.
I done another coat worth £50 but I also took customers receipts. So instead of giving them the receipts, I took them and then took those exact items and returned them.
Yes I got someone else to return these items, they had no idea and one of the times I returned it. And they have everything on CCTV.
I have already admitted to it all, and the manager said thank you for being honest and they’ve called the police. They let me go and didn’t escort me out which they normally would do

OP posts:
Leatherboundanddown · 28/01/2018 17:08

If you can try and get into uni asap it may be a good plan for you as could be 'easier' in a sense than getting a job and having to declare this. Be aware that business students often take work placements etc and those companies would reference and check you so this could be a barrier.

Pollaidh · 28/01/2018 17:08

Forgot about travel. I know someone who was due to travel to US on business. They were refused a Visa and that was fun to explain to their company. The crime had occurred many many years previously.

Kursk · 28/01/2018 17:09

I highly doubt that the police are going to do anything at all (I have no faith in the police). Absolutely worst case you will get a caution

Original poster
user1496147688 · 28/01/2018 17:10

I think I’ll just have to accept whatever happens now. I don’t know what I was thinking, I’ve been working there for 3 years aswell so I knew I wouldn’t get away with it. They have more cameras in Primark than there is in the whole mall, all the receipts were made with my own staff number, it was just so stupid

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 28/01/2018 17:10

They're on one of OP's other threads, Iamagreyhound

YerAuntFanny · 28/01/2018 17:13

WRT your other thread.

You say you work with your Mum who has been abusive, is there any chance this could escalate things as I'm assuming she will be aware of what you've done?

Do you have a safe place to go?

retirednow · 28/01/2018 17:16

You need to get help sorting your life out, seriously. You have problems with abuse at home, you don't speak to your grandparents and now you are committing petty crimes. You don't want a life like this. Do you have a welfare officer at uni or a doctor you can speak to about everything that is going on, please ask for help.

ObscuredbyFog · 28/01/2018 17:19

OP has several threads running.

User You need more help than anyone on a message forum can give you.

Womens Aid on 0808 2000 247 can help with your situation at home. You have to keep ringing and ringing, their lines are busy but you have to keep trying.

The Police can help with your situation at home, you need to speak to them about that as well as what you've got going on in this thread.

The boyfriend? Get rid of him, you need to focus on getting your life on track.

Contact womens Aid and the Police, the sooner you do, the sooner you'll start to get your life back on track.

KitKat1985 · 28/01/2018 17:19

I doubt you will go to prison over £200.

However, essentially you have committed two offences. The first was the initial shop-lifting, and then the second was fraud. The fact that you did this repeatedly and that you did it against your employer will be seen as an aggravating factor, so I think you are probably looking at community service and a fine, rather than just a caution. You will undoubtedly lose your job and get a criminal record. The biggest repercussion you are going to have is that this will undoubtedly negatively impact on your future career, especially until the conviction is 'spent' (and even then for some jobs where you need to give full CRB disclosure it will still show on your record permanently).

Greensleeves · 28/01/2018 17:21

You worry me OP. You don't sound like the usual greedy entitled thief. You don't know why you did it, it was obvious you would be caught, you didn't put much thought into how to avoid being caught. You're struggling with an abusive home situation and you're only 19.

i got caught shoplifting when I was 8. The thing I was nicking was for old ladies, it had no attraction for me really, I had no idea why I was doing it. I was being pretty heavily abused and neglected at home. It's attention-seeking, self-destructive behaviour.

I think you need to see this as a turning point. Is there a counselling service at your college, or a welfare officer you can speak to? I think you need to make changing your living situation and getting out from under your family a priority now.

JustanotherJP · 28/01/2018 17:21

Amazing all the people who confidently say she won’t go to prison. Where does this information come from?

Sentencing guidelines for fraud by abuse of position, which this is, are at page 6 of the attached link.

www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Fraud_bribery_and_money_laundering_offences_-_Definitive_guideline.pdf

I personally would think you would fall into the higher culpability bracket as it is an abuse of position and you got someone else involved.

If you are offered a caution by the police jump at it. While it is not a conviction it will still appear on a DBS check but you effectively wouldn’t be punished.

You will see from the link that the starting point is a custodial sentence but you may well get a community order instead or may get a suspended sentence.

Original poster
user1496147688 · 28/01/2018 17:22

I know. My life’s a shambles right now. That’s why I’m on here asking for advice because I don’t have anyone else to ask

OP posts:
Caroelle · 28/01/2018 17:23

You have committed an offence where there is an element of breach of trust (as an employee). It’s not that many years ago that you would have gone to prison for this ( I’m a former probation officer so I know this.) In your shoes I would email Primark and offer to pay money back, even if it is as little as £5 per week. When the police come admit it, tell them that you have learned your lesson from this ( as I hope that you have), and with luck yiu will get a caution. Primark may have a policy of theft by employees and may push to get you prosecuted, all the more reason to offer compensation. If you want to work with vulnerable adults or children, this will always come up on a DBS check, otherwise yiu wil Be covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. It will affect your ability to travel; the US and Russia always want to know about previous cautions and convictions.

Original poster
user1496147688 · 28/01/2018 17:24

Your right, because i didn’t just steal. I faked receipts and broke a few of their policies. They showed me a staff handbook which says they will prosecute any employee that steals and they showed me the examples of gross misconduct I had committed

OP posts:
Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 28/01/2018 17:25

Why is Mumsnet your first port of call, op?

Kursk · 28/01/2018 17:27

JustanotherJP Sentencing guidelines for fraud by abuse of position, which this is, are at page 6 of the attached link.

Given the state of public finances it’s not economically viable to sentace someone for a low level crime.