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31
Jan
Ripon woman sentenced for £15,800 pizza shop fraud
A Ripon woman has been sentenced for defrauding Domino’s Pizza out of almost £16,000.
Martyna Holica, of Cornbell Gate, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position at Harrogate Magistrates Court on December 19.
Holica returned to court today (January 31) for sentencing.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court the defendant worked at Domino’s Pizza in Ripon at the time of the offence, which took place between November 2021 and August 2022.
The court heard suspicious activity was detected on the pizza shop’s bank account, which is when the situation came to light.
Ms Ibbotson said the 24-year-old defendant, who was visibly upset in court, had used the company card machine to issue refunds to her own bank account.
Holica made a total of 87 transactions between November 2021 and August 2022, the final of which amounted to £600.
Holica had taken £15,872 in total, the court heard.
Ms Ibbotson said the defendant made a full admission when staff approached her about the situation, and said she wanted to pay the money back.
Holica also admitted the offence to police, saying she had “severe money difficulties” at the time, the court heard.
Defendant has experienced ‘significant trauma’ during her life
Brian Nuttney, defending, told the court Holica was “very co-operative” with both store managers and police in the aftermath.
He said the defendant showed “profound remorse” for what she had done, and told the magistrates Holica was of previous good character.
The court heard Holica comes from a deeply religious family and she wanted to pay the money back.
“She would welcome any order making her pay compensation,” Mr Nuttney said.
He told the court Holica was in a relationship at the time of the offence, adding:
It was not a very supportive relationship. She was left to handle everything, and she struggled to pay the bills.
The court heard the defendant suffers from anxiety, but she was scared to tell her family she was struggling at the time.
Mr Nuttney said Holica felt “very isolated”. He added:
Ms Holica took the money to pay her bills. There was no attempt to hide the transactions – it was her name and her bank card. She was always going to be discovered.
The court heard Holica has experienced “significant trauma in her life” and has had a “difficult life”.
Holica was sentenced to an 18-month community order, which includes 20 rehabilitation activity days and 180 hours of unpaid work.
She was also ordered to pay £7,900 in compensation.
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