Duty-free rip-off operation deprives States of £37k
Wednesday 16th January 2013, 1:00PM GMT.
Nicholas Ward, 51, pictured outside the Royal Court, where he admitted five counts of depriving the States of Guernsey of nearly £37,000-worth of duty. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 1295225)
A BIN bag full of cigarettes, tobacco and gin left in his car proved the undoing of Nicholas Ward’s duty-free rip-off operation.
Colleagues, believing he was acting suspiciously, spotted the sack of goods and called police.
The former Anglo Normandy Aeroengineering employee had responsibility for stocking Aurigny flights with duty-free goods.
He admitted taking more than 200,400 filter cigarettes, 20.5 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco, 106.7 litres of spirits and 9.25 litres of wine from a bonded store on 105 separate days.
The 51-year-old was sentenced to the maximum 240 hours of community service after pleading guilty to five counts of depriving the States of Guernsey of nearly £37,000-worth of duty.
He also asked for another count to be taken into consideration under Customs and Excise legislation and has since paid back all the duty lost.
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“paid back all the duty that was lost” in other words he made a lot more money than the duty that was lost so is still financially in proft … and they say crime doesn’t pay
105 separate offences (not 1 offence over 105 days). What exactly do you have to do to go to prison?
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THOUSANDS of Ecstasy tablets bearing the Olympic Rings logo, with a local street value of up to £38,810, were found in the boot of a car stopped by Customs. but it seems ok to depriving the duty of 37,000 with out going to prison whats that telling you, yes your better off smuggling cigarettes, tobacco and gin if you get away with it 37,000 better off if you get get busted you still get away with it…both are high value crimes ?
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So he got done for evading the duty, but did not get done for the theft of more than 200,00 fags and over 100 litres of spirits! something is not quite right here, is it because it is the state owned airline that he robbed from, dont want to admit how lax their stock checks are, as if he had not
been seen by fellow work collegues loading it into his car, this would have continued?
This was not just evading duty, he stole the duty free products, so theft should have been first, followed by the duty evasion later!
Sounds like a case dropped to save the face of Aurigny and their management.
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Flyer
I agree, for him to be able to do this for such a long time without discovery, makes you wonder is the rest of the airline managed in this way?,
if so its no wonder it looses large sums of taxpayers money every year!
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He had been getting away with stealing all sorts from the company for many years and should have had a harsher sentence.
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Ex Aurigny – if that is the case, why did you not come forward? As a former employee I am sure you would have known that he had been arrested. He was dealt with in Court on the facts that were available. The harsher sentence would have been incurred if you had come forward and told what you know. It is down to you that he got away with what you allege he did.
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Why did his colleagues call the police ? Is it because the management didn’t listen .
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Seems a rather light sentance!
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I am amazed at the light sentence, as in the past theft by employee was always treated with a harsh sentence.
I can only think he has friends in high places, or is a member of a well known organisation.
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Is it not common practice to stock stake?
invorcing goods from bonded store to aircraft?
Is this just a one off incident that has been spotted?
I think this case should be investigated further
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The relatively light sentence for such a major catalog of offences seems extraordinary. No surprise that questions are being asked about cover ups and special treatment.
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Where is PBF when you need him? Oh well, here goes. “Another shambles”
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So he staels from Aurigny ? actually its from each and every taxpayer of Guernsey.. and he gets away with it relatively scott free.. whaty ever next !!!!
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