Trusted Bus Driver Steals Over £72,000 from Employer
Andrew Berry, a lead driver at Trent Barton since 2004, has been caught stealing tens of thousands of pounds from the bus company. The 37-year-old abused his trusted position to embezzle £72,075 over several years.
How the Theft Unraveled During Lockdown
The scam was uncovered in March 2020 when Berry was furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic. With him off the clock, management audited accounts linked to the Sutton Travel shop and the staff Busman club—schemes Berry was trusted to oversee.
In 2017, Berry set up a NatWest bank account for canteen funds, which he managed. But when furloughed, Trent Barton spotted nearly £12,000 mysteriously transferred to an HSBC account—Berry’s personal bank.
Berry admitted the transfers when confronted but dodged disciplinary meetings and was eventually sacked. Police launched an investigation revealing multiple cash payments been funnelled into Berry’s account between December 2016 and March 2020.
Driver Confesses to Stealing to Cover Debt
During a police interview, Berry confessed he diverted money from the Busman scheme and stole from Sutton Travel shop takings. He also pocketed fares he collected while driving buses.
“Berry held a significant position of trust and was highly regarded by his colleagues for many years. The fact he betrayed that trust over such a long period of time came as a huge shock to his employers,” said Detective Sergeant Marc Lancaster.
Sentence Passed: Suspended Jail and Community Punishment
Berry, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 28 November. He received an 18-month jail term, suspended for two years. Alongside this, he must complete 100 hours of unpaid work and attend 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days.
Detective Lancaster added, “Fraud and theft is not the answer to debt problems and there are no excuses for committing such offences. We urge anyone suspecting fraud to come forward. We take these crimes seriously and will work tirelessly to catch offenders.”
