Man jailed for stealing thousands from Somerset business
Michael Vowles took around £16,000 from Worle Moor Butchers
Last updated 29th Jun 2022
A 28-year-old man has been jailed for 12 months after admitting to defrauding thousands of pounds from a butchers near Weston-super-Mare.
Michael Vowles, of Avonmouth Road in Bristol, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, fraud by false representation and theft.
Vowles is a qualified butcher who took approximately £16,000 while he was employed as a manager at Worle Moor Butchers in Worle’s High Street, from August 2017 to June 2018.
Vowles took the money in a number of different ways. Before the butchers had opened, he had started to buy meat from suppliers using the business’ cash, then sold it on and took the profit. He also duped his employer into paying him for equipment already purchased by the business, which he then pocketed.
When business was open, the Vowles altered the books. Officers discovered he had taken more than £14,000. This is in addition to approximately £2,000 he had already stolen from them.
Vowles was sentenced today at Bristol Crown Court.
The officer in charge of the investigation Detective Constable Ross Chambers said: “To break the trust of an employee is such a terrible way is unforgivable and it has had a monumental impact on the victim and her family.
“The victim has had to pay out half of her pension investment to cover the losses to the business, caused by Vowles’ actions.
“He did not think twice about taking that money and the implications it would have for the business owner. I hope this is a lesson learned and the victim and their family get some justice in today’s sentencing.”