Shamed magistrate spared prison term (From Echo)

Shamed magistrate spared prison term

4:00pm Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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A DISGRACED magistrate who stole a colleague’s credit card and pocketed £850 has been given community service.

Anthony Harley, 63, who sat in judgment over criminals while on the bench at Grays Magistrates’ Court, withdrew cash from Tesco with a lorry driver’s stolen credit card.

His victim, Wayne Wooley, only discovered the fraud after trying to pay for a meal with his wife.

Mr Wooley then caught the crooked JP after watching CCTV footage taken by Tesco in Rainham.

A jury convicted Harley, of King Edward Drive, Grays, of four counts of fraud by false representation following a trial last month.

Harley was sacked from his day job as a training supervisor at Ford, and stepped down from the magistrates’ court bench.

Sentencing Harley yesterday at Snaresbrook Crown Court, the judge, Recorder Alan Newman QC, spared him from jail, but ordered him to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

He told Harley: “I find it very sad that you are before me at the moment.

“You are a man of 63 years of age, of good character, and obviously a man who has contributed towards the community in sitting as a magistrate.”

Harley was also told to pay his victim £850 compensation after Mr Wooley’s bank refused to reimburse the stolen cash because he left his PIN scribbled on a scrap of paper in his wallet. Harley must also pay £500 legal costs.

Jurors heard how Harley took Mr Wooley’s wallet from his rucksack or locker inside a portable building.

He made three withdrawals totalling £850 over three days in October, 2007, from a Tesco cashpoint.

Harley also tried to take out a further £1,050 on the card, but its issuer declined.

Mr Wooley was among six new recruits receiving truck-driving training from Harley at the Ford plant in Dagenham.

The Judicial Communications Office has now confirmed Harley will also face disciplinary proceedings.