Man who went around work photographing things and selling them on Facebook gets suspended jail term
A man who photographed items at his workplace and listed them for sale on eBay and Facebook Marketplace has been sentenced.
Matthew Ramsey, 32, of Antrim Road in Ballymena, pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation.
The charge relates to between the December 1, 2024 and January 27, 2025.
After the guilty plea to that charge a second charge that he stole goods worth £300 from Kilwaughter Lime during the same period was withdrawn by prosecutors at Ballymena Magistrates' Court.
A prosecutor said police received a report the defendant had been selling property belonging to his employer, Kilwaughter Lime, without their permission.
He had photographed items at the company premises and listed them for sale on eBay and Facebook Marketplace "under an account that was owned and operated by the defendant".
The prosecutor said the loss to the company was "£300 of engineering equipment" and a "further £3,500 worth of equipment was listed for sale" but that only £270 restitution was being sought.
The solicitor said Ramsey had expressed regret and expressed "shame".
District Judge Nigel Broderick handed down a six-month prison term, suspended for 18 months.
He also ordered him to pay £270 compensation.