Truro Clarks shop team leader guilty of stealing £12,202.40

Daniel Mountjoy, aged 40, of Nancemere Road, Truro appeared at Truro Magistrates Court for sentence yesterday (May 19) after pleading guilty to one charge of fraud by abuse of position.

The court heard that Mountjoy had worked at the Clarks shoe shop in Truro for a number of years before the franchise owner, Martin Goodenough, became suspicious of financial irregularities.

The prosecution told the court that when Mr Goodenough confronted Mountjoy, he immediately admitted what he had done and said he would pay it all back.

In total, it was found that between June 25, 2023, and April 27, 2025, Mountjoy had taken £12,202.40 from the company by processing fake refunds, with the money going straight into his bank account.

The prosecution said Mountjoy made the refunds using his staff number.

“The refunds were all made between midday and 1pm, the same time as his manager took his lunch break,” said the prosecution. “The refunds were made against products that had never been sold.

“When he was interviewed by police, he made full and frank admissions.”

In a personal impact statement read to magistrates, Mr Goodenough said the fraud had put financial pressure on the business and that, because Mountjoy had taken advantage of a position of trust, he had had to introduce new procedures to ensure it did not happen again.

In a second personal impact statement, Mr Goodenough said Mountjoy had told him he had taken the money to pay outstanding bills, but over the years had also spoken about holidays he had taken with his family.

“When I first found out he told me it was to pay for bills and to get by,” said Mr Goodenough. “I now know it was to pay for his holidays and have a better lifestyle.”

In his defence, Mountjoy’s solicitor told the court his client was truly sorry for what he had done and had worked at the shop for a number of years before discovering by accident how to commit the fraud.

His defence denied he had used the money to pay for “extravagant” holidays, saying the trips were to visit family elsewhere in the country and included a caravan holiday in Devon paid for by his family.

He said the motive had been financial hardship.

Magistrates sentenced Mountjoy to 18 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to repay the full amount to the company at a rate of £50 a month, to be deducted from his family’s Universal Credit.

He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and undergo mental health treatment for 12 months.