A hotel employee who embezzled more than £11,000 from his workplace will repay just over a tenth of the stolen amount following a court ruling.
Thirty-nine-year-old Benjamin Grindley diverted payments meant for The Telford Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort into personal bank accounts over a sixteen-month period.
Telford Magistrates Court has ordered him to repay £1,148, despite his theft totalling thousands more.
The fraud happened at the four-star establishment located on Great Hay Drive in Sutton Way.
Telford Magistrates Court has ordered him to repay £1,148, despite his theft totalling thousands more
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Mr Grindley systematically redirected customer payments between January 2023 and April 2024, exploiting his position at the luxury venue which offers hotel, spa and golf facilities.
Grindley had been employed at the upscale resort since 2022, where he held responsibility for managing customer memberships.
His fraudulent activities began in January 2023 and continued until April this year, spanning approximately sixteen months.
During this period, he systematically misappropriated funds that members paid for their subscriptions and services.
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The court heard that financial pressures led him to exploit his trusted position within the organisation.
His role overseeing membership accounts provided him with the access and opportunity to redirect payments.
The fraud continued undetected for over a year before finally coming to light earlier this year.
Mr Grindley executed his scheme using a Sum Up card payment terminal to process transactions that should have benefited his employer.
Benjamin Grindley diverted payments meant for The Telford Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort into personal bank accounts over a sixteen-month period
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He established multiple bank accounts under false identities to receive the diverted funds.
One account bore the name Telford Health Company, created specifically to receive the misappropriated payments.
These accounts, which weren't registered in his own name, served as conduits for the stolen money.
Through this payment processing system, he channelled membership fees and other customer payments away from the hotel's legitimate accounts.
The fraudulent arrangement allowed him to steal funds while maintaining the appearance of normal transaction processing at the resort.