A WATFORD bank worker, who stole almost £3,500 from his bank, has been jailed for three months.

Benjamin Colling used his position as a personal banker to divert funds into his own account.

St Albans Crown Court heard on Wednesday that once he embarked on his crimes, the 23-year-old married man found it hard to stop.

For ten months he regularly made illegal transfers using the bank's computer system.

Colling, of Benbridge Place, Linden Lea, Watford, pleaded guilty to two sample offences of theft.

In all, there were 42 illegal transactions.

Mr Charles White, prosecuting, said Colling got his job with Barclays Bank at The Parade in Watford, in November 1999.

It was in April of this year that irregularities showed up and, following an internal investigation, it was discovered the personal banker had stolen £3,519 from his employers which had been syphoned off into his own account.

The court heard that none of the bank's customers had lost money.

It was discovered he had been taking sums of between £20 and £200.

Judge Findlay Baker was told, after the discovery of the thefts, Colling repaid all the money and resigned.

Miss Kathryn Hirst, defending, said the money had not funded a lavish lifestyle or drugs or drink.

She said he was a young man who was intelligent, personable and who got on well with people.

But she said once he began taking the money, he had found it difficult to stop.

Judge Findlay Baker sentenced him to three months imprisonment and told him: "It was a classic breach of trust by an employee on his employer".

November 6, 2001 10:30