Boss who paraded thief employee pays £13k compensation

[Sharon]

I found this quite funny actually.. how stupid of him and how horrible for the guy.
http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2011/02/15/article-1297810717882-0D331264000005DC-583771_636x572.jpg

Flooring company boss Simon Cremer, who paraded a thieving worker through the streets, has been forced to pay £13,000 for humiliating him


The 47-year-old said handing over £5,000 in compensation and paying the legal bills of former employee Mark Gilbert ‘stuck in his throat’.
But, possibly faced with an even larger bill had he gone to court, Mr Cremer settled.

‘He stole from me yet he is the one who is walking away with the money. It makes me so angry,’ said Mr Cremer.
‘I think it’s absolutely disgusting that he was even able to sue me after he had stolen from me, to be honest.
‘I don’t want to give him a penny after what he did, so it really sticks in my throat,’ he added.
Gilbert started legal action against his boss for loss of earnings and for the distress and psychological help he needed after the incident in 2008.
The 40-year-old was frogmarched to a police station in Witham, Essex, with a sign around his neck after admitting cashing a company cheque for £845 at a local Cash Converters.
Police gave him a caution but warned his boss he faced prosecution for false imprisonment.
Speaking after the incident, Gilbert said he feared he was going to be killed as he was bundled into the back of a van.

He said: ‘They laid into me, they beat me, I was begging Simon to let me go to the police, they said they didn’t trust me and they had to tie me up. They were punching me and threatened me with various tools.’

The case against Mr Cremer was ultimately dropped.
A civil case was due before a court this week but has now been settled.

Mr Cremer has had to pay £5,000 in compensation and £8,000 court costs, saying going through with a trial could have bankrupted him.

Gilbert has since moved away from the area.


Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/855647-boss-who-paraded-thief-employee-pays-him-13-000-compensation#ixzz1E9QMssFV

[Inseriousity.]

"How stupid of him and how horrible for the guy"

which way round are you saying this lol? Stupid of the thief/boss, horrible for the thief/boss lolol

While I think the boss overreacted with the sandwich shop sign thing (although I did find it funny), I'd have been pretty annoyed if someone had stole £845 off me that I'd worked hard for so it's an understandable reaction and shouldn't have been prosecuted for it. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.... and face the "distress and psychologial help"

[-:Undertaker:-]

I found this quite funny actually.. how stupid of him and how horrible for the guy.

Horrible for the thief? shouldn't have stole in the first place then should he? (I assume you mean the thief, if not then apologies)

I don't blame the guy for this, he's merely stating the truth and good on him for frogmarching the guy to the police station and humiliating the thief which will make him think again if he ever attempts to steal again. As one of the comments on the Mail said though, the fact the Police went after the guy who handed the criminal in just shows just ridiculous this country has become - it could pass for a monty python sketch.

Can we have a return to common sense, please? anyone?

[Conservative,]

Shouldn't have frogmarched him down there, but then he shouldn't have stolen. It's 6 of one and half a dozen of another.

The employee admitted he stole it and was prepared to turn himself in - let him? :S No need to embarrass him in front of local people by doing that - taking it way too far imo. You can check with the police that he DID turn himself in - so you don't need to watch him do it.

A huge overreaction from the boss, but then I don't think the employee should've got the money tbh. If he DID get compensation - he should have had to pay back the money he stole.

[Jordy]

As one of the comments on the Mail said though, the fact the Police went after the guy who handed the criminal in just shows just ridiculous this country has become - it could pass for a monty python sketch.It's a civil case. The police aren't the ones prosecuting the boss.

I wouldn't be seen dead wearing anything with such bad grammar.

[Chippiewill]

Can we have a return to common sense, please? anyone?
That would be an optimal but unlikely outcome. Unfortunately this is the state of affairs nowdays. Back in ye olde days you could have killed him and then you would gain all of his stuff, ahh sweet dreams.

[--ss--]

Until Capital punishment is re-implemented there will be no deterrent for criminals as we now live in a society where criminals now have more rights than the victims.

[Conservative,]

Until Capital punishment is re-implemented there will be no deterrent for criminals as we now live in a society where criminals now have more rights than the victims.

A petty thief would not be executed. I'd reserve that for; Treason, terrorism, murder, serial killer, serial rapist.

[GommeInc]

Seems a bit of a pointless case. He shouldn't of stolen money, the boss didn't have to parade him through the streets (parading being an obvious exaggeration) and the compensation is incredibly pointless.

All in all, a stupid case. The thief should of been punished, and the boss given a slapped wrist.

[Chippiewill]

A petty thief would not be executed. I'd reserve that for; Treason, terrorism, murder, serial killer, serial rapist.
I'd reserve execution for:

Those who cannot be helped with their mental illness that causes them to do such horrific things. Can't blame a guy for a chemical imbalance in the brain that makes the psychotic.

[Conservative,]

I'd reserve execution for:

Those who cannot be helped with their mental illness that causes them to do such horrific things. Can't blame a guy for a chemical imbalance in the brain that makes the psychotic.

True to be fair. If they're mentally ill then they should seek treatment - if they cannot be treated then...byebye.


And as Gomme said - stupid case, thief punished; maybe suspended pay, have to repay the money and fined? and boss fined? But yeah stupid case, stupid errors on both sides.

[Chippiewill]

True to be fair. If they're mentally ill then they should seek treatment - if they cannot be treated then...byebye.
Or maybe like that thing in the Minority Report because that was kinda cool in my opinion.
http://www.cyberpunkreview.com/images/minority_report06.jpg

[ifuseekamy]

I think the whole thing is more to do with the boss and other employees throwing him in a van and beating him (if it's true). I don't think marching someone down a street with a sign on is really a crime, it's hardly being put in the stocks and having rotten tomatoes thrown at you.

[Oleh]

He drives a VW, deserves to be punished!!

But seriously, why didn't they just resolve it by asking the guy to repay instead of all the nonsense of walking him in public causing humility and probably not being able to get a job again.

[Ajthedragon]

This is sick... stupid justice system.