Corporal stole laptops from army

A corporal in the Army who "stole hand over fist" from the Ministry of Defence has been jailed for 20 months.

Robert Hayller, 25, worked at the MoD base in Northwood, near Watford, when he stole 25 laptops and 11 42in plasma televisions valued at £62,000.

Hayller of Cranley Gardens, Wallington, Surrey, appeared for sentence after admitting four charges of obtaining property by deception and six of fraud.

St Albans Crown Court heard Hayller had access to a purchasing card.

Prosecutor Cameron Crowe said this allowed him to order the expensive electrical goods.

'Felt remorse'

Nine of the Sony laptops, worth in total £15,000, were received by Hayller's co-defendant David Croucher.

Croucher, of Greenfields Avenue, Totton, Southampton, sold them on to unsuspecting customers through his eBay account and was convicted of handling.

Hayller was of previous good character but Croucher had two previous convictions for dishonesty, one in 1974 and the other in 2000.

Defence barrister Gavin Holme said Hayller felt remorse and shame.

He joined the Army in 2000 and was on his way to a "glittering career" having been promoted from corporal to sergeant, he said.

'Arrant dishonesty'

Ronald Jaffa, for Croucher, said he had used his own name and address and phone number to sell the computers.

"It was not a sophisticated handling of stolen goods, " he said.

He said Croucher, who is involved in coaching with the England speedway team, was in ill health and was waiting for an operation on his lower back. At the time he was in a very large amount of debt, he said.

Jailing Hayller, Judge Marie Catterson said: "You stole hand over fist. You were behaving with arrant dishonesty. It is a tragedy for you that you have thrown away a good career with prospects."

Croucher was given an eight month sentence, suspended for two years.