A pub licensee who helped himself to £4,192 of his pub’s takings will spend Christmas behind bars.

Mark Steven Rowe was in charge at the Railway pub in Douglas when he took the money and then left on the boat for England, in November 2016.

The 39-year-old, who the court heard was a compulsive gambler and drinker, was met off the ferry by Lancashire police and his car was searched but no cash was found.

The court heard Rowe, of St Ives in Cambridgeshire, was having family difficulties. He cashed up the takings at the Railway, before heading off in his car to play darts at the Sam Webb pub. He said he took the money with him intending to pay it into the bank on the way to work the following morning.

Later that night, wanting to drink and stay longer at the pub, he decided to move his car to a safer parking place and retrieve it the next day.

He told the police he thought the money had fallen out of his pocket when he was in his car but when he returned to his car the next day there was a carrier bag on the passenger seat and a paying in book but there was no money to be found.

disappeared

Initially, he denied two charges of theft from his employer, Heron and Brearley, one relating to £3,472 takings that he claimed had disappeared from his car, and the other to £720 which had also gone missing.

The police were notified by a manager at Heron and Brearley of discrepancies in the pub’s accounts.

Initially, Rowe denied theft but at the 11th hour he changed his plea to guilty.

In a statement, he said he had planned to bank the money the next day but later decided to keep it, citing his addiction to gambling and alcohol, and a relationship breakdown as the reason.

He said he wanted to repay the money.

Defending Rowe, Ian Kermode said: ’He was under the impression that he could take the £720 as an advance on his salary but he was wrong.

’He pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial,’ said Mr Kermode.

’It was a late change of plea but four days’ legal aid costs were saved.

’He did voluntarily return to the Isle of Man in January 2017. He was not arrested and he has attended all previous court appearances.’

Mr Kermode said his client had an excellent work history and was building up a window cleaning business. He said Rowe volunteered, helping out aspiring go-kart racers and had been a mechanic for an 11-year old Lewis Hamilton.

He said Rowe had not gambled since 2016 and his drinking was limited and in control.

breach

Deemster Alastair Montgomerie said the case demonstrated a serious breach of trust and the sum involved was significant. However, he noted Rowe’s work ethic, his remorse, his improved family relations and his action to address his gambling and drinking.

’Your family are also victims of your offending. The custodial threshold is passed. Counsel says the sentence should be suspended but I do not consider there is sufficient reason to do this, and I regret the hardship caused to your wife and family as a result. The sentence is reduced in recognition of your progress and repayment of the money.

’Drink and gambling has brought you to this but if you stick to your current policy, I am confident that on your release we won’t see you back in court again.’

He was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment for each of the two thefts. The sentences will run concurrently. He must repay £4,192 to Heron and Brearley or serve eight months in default.

’I have kept this sentence as short as I possibly can,’ Deemster Montgomerie told him.

No evidence was offered on two separate charges of money laundering, which Rowe denied, and those charges were formally dismissed.