Norfolk pet rescuer jailed for stealing £26k from vets

Christopher Coe  pocketed customer payments while working as a nurse and receptionist at two Norfolk vets.

Norwich Crown Court was told the 38-year-old - who set up an organisation called Pride Animal Rescue to take in unwanted pets - had previously been jailed for similar thefts while working for veterinary practices in Nottingham and London.

Prosecuting John Morgans said his latest offences came while working as a nurse for DNA Vetcare where he contacted customers telling them to pay outstanding invoices into his personal bank account.

He said the fraud had taken place over a long period with the vets estimating its losses at more than £26,000.

Christopher Coe stole customer payments estimated at more than £26,000 while working at Glaven Vets in Holt (Image: Newsquest)

After being employed as a temporary locum receptionist at Glaven Vets in Holt in May 2019 he also began stealing payments, giving out fake receipts to customers who were later invoiced for non-payment.

He also stole £879 from the company safe.

Mr Morgans said his actions had damaged the good reputation of the business and “customer trust built up over many years”.

The court was told Coe, of Mere Street in Diss, who pleaded guilty to 10 counts of theft and fraud, had also fraudulently used the identity of a former partner to set up a fruit and veg delivery business in 2020.

Mr Morgans said it had a devastating impact on his ex who faced court summons and bailiffs chasing debts of more than £19,000.

Norwich Crown Court heard had previously been convicted of thefts from vets in Nottingham and London (Image: Newsquest)

Oliver Haswell, mitigating, said Coe’s thefts had been “unsophisticated”.

He said while he had an “appalling record going back a number of years” Coe had now set up an animal rescue and dog kennelling business.

Earlier this year Coe said Pride Animal Rescue, based in Diss, had been inundated with abandoned dogs amid the cost of living crisis.

Jailing him for 12 months Judge Anthony Bate said he had 13 previous convictions for 54 offences, the majority for dishonesty, and that he had made something of a “specialism” of defrauding vets.