Ferryhill man denies theft from Durham passport office

John Thomas Reid is accused of removing the money, a cheque and credit card slips from the administration office safe at the Identity and Passport Service, in Durham, on Saturday July 24 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that they were put in a cash tin in the safe by a colleague at 4.35pm the previous day.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said it was discovered the money was missing on the Monday morning (July 26).

"There was an investigation among the staff after an initial search and the money has never been traced."

Police were brought in following examination of in-office cctv footage.

Mr Towers said although there are detailed procedures for checking and storing money, the safe was left open for "quite considerable lengths of time", including for seven-and-a-half hours on the Saturday.

Mr Reid, one of only a limited number of employees who had access to the code, was on duty that day.

"The Crown alleges that Mr Reid stole the money from the safe at about 1.05pm just before leaving the building for his lunch break."

Although several people are seen to be going to the safe on the recorded cctv footage, one visit by Mr Reid aroused suspicion.

"All other occasions can be plainly accounted for.

Mr Towers said Mr Reid opened the safe, "somewhat gingerly", before "rummaging around" and walking off with a box.

The prosecution claims the money was put into the box by Mr Reid and secreted from the office during his lunch break before he returned the empty box on resuming work in the afternoon.

When arrested two days later he denied stealing the money and other items, claiming he was tidying the safe and "absent-mindedly" took the box with him on leaving for lunch.

Mr Towers added: "The Crown does not accept that explanation for what he was doing.

"The Crown alleges he was stealing the money and removing it from the room in that box."

Mr Reid, 40, of Elm Road, Ferryhill, County Durham, denies theft.

The trial continues.