A NatWest bank branch manager, John Toms, has managed to avoid incarceration after pilfering £344,000 from ATMs over eight years to support his gambling addiction.
At 44 years old, Toms exploited his position at the Moorgate branch between January 2016 and April 2024, taking advantage of his exclusive access to the cash machines. To conceal his actions, he would reallocate funds from other areas of the branch in anticipation of the quarterly audits conducted by senior staff.
The court heard that Toms often rose early to sneak into the branch, returning the money to the bank registers prior to the daily checks. Additionally, he forged signatures of colleagues to manipulate the ATM balances when necessary.
An internal investigation revealed that £344,410 could not be accounted for after the reconciliation process at the Moorgate branch. Despite attempts to repay some of the stolen funds, the remaining loss now stands at £249,735.
Ultimately, Toms received a two-year prison sentence, which has been suspended for two years.