A manager at a High Wycombe builders merchants stole £12,000 by faking invoices. 

David Humber, 48, faked invoices at Grant and Stone, where he was a manager, between April 1, 2017, and January 21 last year. 

By falsifying invoices, he obtained cash refunds - which he then pocketed himself. 

Humber, of Priory Close in Denham, had worked for Grant and Stone for 17 years, and had been a manager - with a generous salary - for eight years. 

Humber was arrested in April 2019 for fraud by false representation. 

At Aylesbury Crown Court on Thursday, July 8, Humber was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for 18 months. 

He must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay back £12,000 in compensation. 

Investigating officer Detective Constable Tom Digby from High Wycombe police station, said: “Humber had worked for Grant & Stone for 17 years. During this time he built up the trust of the company and was promoted to the position of branch manager.

“He held this position for eight years and despite the generous salary and benefits that came with it, he abused the trust put in him and used his position in the company to steal large sums of money over a long period of time.

“He has been convicted of stealing £12,000.

“The impact that Humber’s actions have had on the company go beyond purely financial, as he was a trusted and well liked member of the team and his actions have left the managers and employees of the company with sense of betrayal.

“His conviction will hopefully start to make amends for the damage he has done”.