Cheltenham pub manager jailed after stealing thousands

The former manager of a Cheltenham pub has been jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of stealing more than £14,000 from the business.

Steven Holmes, 35, of Bridgend, south Wales was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday after being convicted of stealing £14,225 from the Bottle of Sauce in Albion Street, Cheltenham, between July 2017 and January 2018.

The court had been told that Holmes, who had a gambling habit, had been responsible for cashing up at the end of a shift and for banking the money.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC told Holmes: "You were employed in a responsible position and you breached a high degree of trust in the worst possible way.

"Over a period of seven months you stole a significant amount of money for a small company."

Holmes' lawyer Lloyd Jenkins had asked the judge not to "crush this man with a lengthy prison sentence", adding "his gambling habit maybe a far bigger problem than he admits".

The court also heard that the Bottle of Sauce was now doing very well and had been named Cheltenham pub of the year for the second year running.

Cheltenham pub manager found guilty of stealing thousands>>