Oxford Brookes worker denies knowledge of missing cash (From The Oxford Times)

Oxford Brookes worker denies knowledge of missing cash

11:00am Thursday 9th September 2010 in

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AN OXFORD Brookes University print worker accused of stealing about £3,700 from his employers said he did not know how the money went missing, a jury heard.

Mark Hughes, 39, denied using his swipe card to gain entry to the university out-of-hours, despite computer records identifying his card as the one used, the jury at Oxford Crown Court has been told.

Giving evidence yesterday, investigating officer Pc Alex Locke read the transcripts from Hughes’s police interview in January.

During the conversation, Hughes said: “I don’t know where the money went.

“I know it looks funny, but I have never taken any money. It is more than my job is worth.”

Pc Locke then told Hughes “things look bad” for him because he had previously admitted never lending his swipe card to anybody, and it was found in his home.

Hughes replied: “It is a bit odd, but I would never take any money from the printing department.”

He added that he had gained entry “a few times” to do photocopying.

Hughes, of Southfield Park, East Oxford, is accused of taking the money during a three-month period up to December last year.

An informal investigation into the initial discrepancies concluded the losses were down to poor management of the cash.

But when the irregularities became more frequent, a police investigation ensued and Hughes was arrested.

He denies 20 counts of theft.

The trial continues.