What to expect for sentencing at court on Friday?

[Ladieunlucky]

Im being sentenced this Friday at crown court. I was charged for fraud under false representation due to a manic episode where I stole money from employers. I have bi polar disorder and was un medicated at the time. I handed myself in when I realised what I did and I have lost all my friends and reputation, butonly what I deserve. This charge is because I was in a position of trust. I have seen a psychiatrist for pre sentencing report.

I’ve been advised the sentencing guidelines start at 3 years, reduced by a 3rd because of my early guilty plea and co operation. Mitigating factors are I have not offended before, early plea and co operation, previous good character, have a 15 year old who I have joint custody with. And also my mental illness.

I am prepared for a custodial sentence and just wondered what I can expect on the day in court, how long it takes as no there is no trial. And what to pack in my bag to bring to prison?

I understand this may be my fate and what I deserve and have never once said I’m not guilty. Please just kind comments as this time is very difficult x

Good point, recruiting is time consuming, expensive and a pain in the arse. So maybe a conversation with them can fix this if you are doing well at work.

However a conversation would need to include the potential ramifications of sentencing and you'd need to be entirely honest and express genuine remorse. No one can tell how they'd feel about it.

Had you been taken into custody Friday work would have had a bit of a shock. I hope they give you the benefit of the doubt as you say you are not involved with money. And I say that from their perspective I'm not judging you at all.

Will your solicitor write you something for your employer explaining the situation and your mitigation?

You were advised on your other threads not to lie to your employer and that it wouldn't look good, both for the pre-sentence report and to your new employer.

You had already submitted a guilty plea before applying for a job that requires the strictest levels of confidence and trust. I'm sorry but admitting to stealing 35k from your employer and then saying you can't really recall suggests that you are not suitable for the role you applied for.

You knew all of this but chose to ignore it.

I don't think you really have a defence for this. It doesn't matter that it wasn't on your record at the moment in time - you knew it was coming. It's been a while since I completed a DBS check but I'm pretty sure it covers this. You chose to leave it off. The frustrating thing is, if you had declared it, it might not have gone against you. But the fact that you hid it is serious. Especially because your charges are concerning dishonesty!

Exactly this.

You were told on your last thread to be honest OP. It’s hard to defend yourself and say you are no longer that dishonest person when they now have first hand experience that you are.

@cheeeesey @HollyKnight thank your for your responses. I understand what I should of done and what I haven’t. My dishonesty of this and the affects. I knew this was coming.

I have admitted all this to my employer this evening, and you are correct he said I should of been honest from the start. But with his medical background and I have showed nothing but redemption in the role he’s is supporting me on the here and now and the person I’ve been for the last 3 months and not my past. He said that it’s about transparency and honestly now and that he understands people make mistakes and the affects of mental illness. Never have I said what I have done isn’t wrong or how I chose to deal with it. I was fully prepared to loose my job as part of my punishment. I am prepared to still get custody. He also said he knows by taking someone’s employment away it makes them re offend and spiral. No one can make me feel any worse then I already have done.

Thank you again for your input, this really helps me be a better person x

@Mrsttcno1 i understand thank you. I was scared to admit this but I won’t anymore d

Your employer sounds like a decent person. You're very lucky! You've been given a second change so make the most of it. Fingers crossed sentencing will allow that to happen.

Fingers crossed for you @Ladieunlucky You may just have luck on your side based on that update.

Oh OP, I am so happy your employer sounds understanding - I really hope this means that you can keep your job! Sending all the positive vibes your way!!

This is great news OP. Your employer's willingness to continue to employ you might also be used in mitigation for your sentencing, so I should mention this to your solicitor if you haven't already done so. Good luck! 😊

That's great news. I agree with @AngelicKaty having an employer willing to support you could go in your favour to keep you out of prison.
I really hope you have a positive day at work tomorrow. 💐

Now your boss is aware of the truth and he seems supportive, you should ask him if he'd be at all willing to write a short character reference that your solicitor may be able to produce at sentencing.

Good luck 🍀

Good idea.

I hope.you have been fully honest with him though, or it might backfire.

Really glad you have a supportive employer. I hope that you get off with a suspended sentence and that by Christmas you're putting all of this behind you.

Your employer does sound very supportive which is good news.

A company I worked for many years ago had an application from a person who had done similar to you, he had stolen from the company he worked for he was not prosecuted but was sacked. He enclosed a letter with his application form, was completely honest, made no attempt to justify what he had done and was very remorseful. The company I worked for took a chance on him, believed he deserved a second chance, gave him the job and he was an exemplary employee and remained employed by them for years.

I really hope you do not get a custodial sentence, I personally don't believe you deserve one, nothing can punish you more than you have punished yourself and I hope you have many years of employment in your new role.

Keep being honest. I know one of the .major reactions and the action with mental illness is the fear,shame then lies then shame then lies then shame. But this must take strength in recovery from you. It's you that has to out the stopper in each time your mind wants you to run. Because that's all this is >fear>high alert> fight flight>>>> action which is either hurt yourself. Actually run. Or lie throguh fear and shame of what you have done,thinking or want to do.
But that only then causes another action to cover the other. The the cycle start again..and or continues.
But so much of a person actions with bipolar come through the after fear and reaction of what they've done. And it brings a new spiral.
Your boss has been the most amazing stopper here. And look at you. Loom at how understanding like this could literally change your life around.
But that needs you to jump on board his compassion and work hard yourself for this.
Drop the shame, drop the it's all my fault. That feeeeeds your ill mind into hating yourself more. And whst comes next>>>> yup the same dam cycle.
You don't need to beat yourself up here. You need to show your boss his faith in you is bloody worth it. And that's done with so much hard work from you to stop stop stop when these thoughts come. Or notice them and fet help at thst point. And take meds of course if they are actually the thing stopping your chemicals in the Brian doing rhat nose dive.
It's hard. And I'm jot saying oh do all the things get all the help and itl be fixed! Pah. Yeh right. mental illness is not like that. It's not a prescribed recovery plan like many physical illness where you can map the way out of this. But ypu can give yourself a dam good go with useful, key direction and support.
Surround yourself with that support system. Both from yourself and others.
Go to work. Let that put a fire in your belly of how kindness and good people can help others like yourself.
Don't talk your way out of it. Be apologetic but sincere and keep going.
Show everyone what ypur made of so that when the court days come noone can say in the coming days that you didn't do everything I your power to come up with that little box of nuggets that were going to keep you well and help rectify what has already been done.

Look at all the shitnyouve already face op. At the start of all this it felt like you were dying indie throghbt the fear of the journey ahead. But ypuve faced every hurdle and part of this with bravery most well people never could. Do you know how strong that makes you! Please keep going. There will be an end to this. We aren't sure what yet. But do things.in every moments from now to make yourself self,cared for and ready for it. You can do this. I know it must feel like another punch to an already bruised and fearfilled gut. But youve been doing it. Jist keep going. Don't think about alllll the mountains ahead. Think fo your next step. What's your next step today look like...xx

Op, I just want to wish you all the very best going forward in life. 💐

My heart sank for you when I read your last update and I’m so pleased and relieved for you that you had the courage to have an open and honest conversation with your employer and he was receptive and supportive.

I’m wishing you all the best. I find your courage and the way you are handling everything truly admirable.

I had a cousin, did something stupid, went to prison for a year. It didn't define them because actually is a decent, very decent person. On release was absolutely upfront about it - got the job and hasn't looked back. That mistake from 20 odd years a go is now hardly worth mentioning because so much good as happened...

You'll move on OP. You'll be okay.

I wish you the very best of luck at sentencing. I have a good feeling that you will get a suspended sentence. You poor thing having it hanging over you though. You will get through this and very soon it will all be over.