A Carlisle man employed as an IT worker by the NHS has been ordered to carry out community service for stealing laptops which he sold on eBay.
David Polwarth, 44, was working at an unspecified Carlisle base when his offences occurred during January last year.
Surplus IT items were stored at a secure facility — on the Kingstown Industrial Estate — until such time as they were required.
For security reasons, only trusted employees had access to this.
“Mr Polwarth was employed by the NHS as an IT worker and did have access to this facility,” prosecutor Diane Jackson told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today.
In March, following an NHS stock take, police were contacted by staff amid suspicions that four laptops, each valued at £275, had been stolen
“They could also see that some of the items had been put up for sale on eBay,” said Mrs Jackson.
A seller’s account on the online auction site was identified. Police were also provided with a list of people with access to the storage facility.
Mrs Jackson continued: “It was suggested Mr Polwarth may be the suspect. His initials matched those on the eBay account selling the items.”
Polwarth, of Grasmere Street, Carlisle, was arrested.
During a search of his home address, two laptops with matching descriptions and serial numbers were located.
“It was later found he had previous sold two (others),” added the prosecutor.
Polwarth — a man of previous good character — admitted four charges of theft by employee.
In a statement, an NHS spokesman had said, when made aware of Polwarth’s arrest, she had tried to look at suspending him pending disciplinary proceedings. But prior to this, Polwarth resigned from his post.
The spokesman described a breach of trust, and added: “He was working for the NHS at a time of financial pressure and has taken laptops to sell for his own gain.”
A defence solicitor said Polwarth had entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity, made full and frank admissions in his police interview and never sought to deny these offences following detection.
“He states that he was selling the laptops for personal gain — to buy food. It is more out of necessity than any other reason,” said Katie Scattergood, mitigating.
District judge Philip Holden imposed a 12-month community order through which Polwarth must complete 100 hours’ unpaid work. He must also pay £550 compensation to the NHS in relation to the two laptops which were not recovered.
District judge Holden said to Polwarth: “What you did was to help yourself to four of their laptops which you had no entitlement to. It is aggravated by the position of trust that you found yourself in.”
