'Walter Mitty' theft costs worker £400
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WAREHOUSEMAN Thomas Reay stole one of his firm's lorries. And with it he made £500 which he returned to the firm.
For a month he travelled the country, plying for hire — and all the money went to the firm. It was a "bizarre, Walter Mitty existence," Mr Michael Williams defending, told Carlisle magistrates.
Reay bought a log book and entered his journeys, buying petrol for his trips with a stolen credit card, then he sent all the money he made on the trips to the Danish Bacon Company in Carlisle before finally being caught on Al near Bedford.
And all the time, said Mr Williams, he lived off tips given to him by garage owners where he bought petrol, and other lorry drivers whom he helped along the way.
Later Reay, 34, of Green March Farm, Durdar, Carlisle told police : "For six months I have been tempted to take a lorry, but I overcame this by hitching lifts with other drivers.
"But after an argument with my wife I stole the lorry. About two months earlier I stole a credit card and I travelled around the country collecting and delivering loads."
Reay pleaded guilty to taking the lorry without consent, stealing a credit card, and driving while disqualified.
Mr Williams told the court that Reay had an extraordinarily bad record for taking lorries but had virtually no other convictions.
"The defendant kept meticulous records of loads carried and the fuel obtained, and made sure that his company got the benefit of the trips. This is a case with bizarre ele. ments — an accurate way 01 describing Reay might be a: a 'Walter Mitty'."
Insp Peter Nicholson, prose cuting, told the court that th( lorry, worth £4,500, was taker from the Danish Bacon Corn pany's depot in Carlisle when Reay worked.
"He took the lorry on Jul3 17 and was caught on Augs 16—during this time the lower half had been repainted am other alterations made, whicl will cost £488 to restore," sair Insp Nicholson.
Reay was ordered to pa.! £400 compensation, and con ditionally discharged for twi years.
For stealing the credit can and driving while disqualifie he was ordered to do 240 hour of community service, and hi licence was endorsed.