Man steals $165,000 from elderly employer

A chauffeur, who claimed he stole over $160,000 from his elderly employer because she was underpaying him for his services, was ordered to spend 18 months in prison when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Friday.

Ralford Dockery pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorised access to data held in a computer, and seven counts of simple larceny, but claimed he worked for every dollar he took.

"I'm not a thief, I'm a hard-working man. Me a work fi Aunty P four years now. I cook for her, wash her car, mow her lawn, and drive her around, and she only pay me $2,000 a week, so me pay miself," Dockery said.

The court heard that Dockery gained access to the pensioner's bank account details and withdrew various quantities from the account from December 12, 2015, to October 5, 2016, amounting to $165,000.

Upon realising that funds were going missing from her account, the pensioner reported the matter to the police, who then gained access to the bank's security camera and observed Dockery making withdrawals at the same time funds went missing from the account.

When Senior Parish Judge Judith Pusey asked the accused what he had to say in his defence, he said, "Me talk to her and ask her for a raise many times and she say $2,000 is all she can afford, so me pay miself."

He added that he is willing to repay all the money he took.

Judge Pusey then told the accused he is welcome to repay the money, but he will have to spend a year and a half in prison for his crime.

A fingerprint order was also made against him.