Wednesday 2 March 2011

Skint Security Guard Nicked 13 Blackberrys


A security guard at a top City bank – frustrated by a cut in hours – who helped himself to thirteen Blackberry’s worth £2,500 during a secret midnight raid caught on CCTV, has dodged jail.

Michael Murphy, 27, of Valence Wood Road, Dagenham maintained his innocence until shown the damaging images.

He pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to stealing the valuable mobile phones from Deutsche Bank AG, Bishopsgate (pictured) on February 9.

Prosecutor Mrs Alexa Morgan told the court: “Between midnight and 1am he went to a communications office on the seventh floor and located the keys to a locked cupboard.

“The Blackberry’s are stored there before they are issued to staff members and Murphy put them into a black holdall.

“This was all captured on a covert camera, but Murphy initially denied stealing the phones, claiming he was in the building to give in his notice and hand in his security pass.

“He was shown the images and changed his account,” added Mrs Morgan.

“He said the company had reduced his hours, his wife had just given birth, and there was no other way to increase his income.”

Murphy sold the phones for £800 at Romford Market the next day, spending the proceeds on rent, bills and baby supplies for his six-month old son Callum.

The court was told the first-time offender was a “desperate man” who had suffered a huge cut in his fifty-six hour work week.

His lawyer said: “He made the biggest mistake of his life by stealing these mobile phones. It was a desperate moment.”

Murphy was sentenced to perform 100 hours community service – the recognised alternative to imprisonment – pay £800 compensation to Deutsche Bank AG and £85 costs.

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