A man who “robbed Peter to pay Paul” stole £86,500 from his employers to pay off a debt to a previous employer he had also stolen from, a court heard.
Mark Johnson transferred three significant sums of money from the accounts of Hewitsons Solicitors into his personal account between November last year and June this year.
Johnson, aged 28, of Huntsham Close, Northampton was working in the accounts department at the Spencer Parade firm, and stole the money so he could pay back what he owned to the Wollaston BMW garage, in Bedford Road.
He admitted three charges of theft by an employee when he appeared at Northampton Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The court heard Johnston transferred £47,500 to his account on November 25 last year, £13,000 on May 9 this year and £26,000 on June 26 this year.
Johnson, who is of previous good character, appeared in the dock dressed smartly in a suit and tie.
Nicky Adelekan, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was employed as an accounts co-ordinator, and part of his responsibility was processing accounts.
“He transferred money from three different accounts into his own account.
“He made full admissions at the time, and when it was reported to the police he also made full admissions.
“He needed the money to pay off what he had stolen from Wollaston BMW. He was robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
Johnson’s counsel made no representations, and he was granted unconditional bail ahead of sentencing at Northampton Crown Court next month.
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