Dishonest council worker to pay back £55,0000

Published on 4th September 2008 in News

SHAMED: Paul Hinks.

The most senior of two highly-regarded council officers jailed for building a £100,000 empire of knock off luxury goods has been hit where it hurts most - in the pocket.

Paul Hinks (41), has been released from jail early to appear at court and forced to re-mortgage his home to pay £55,000 to the tax payer - his share of ill-gotten gains.

Hinks and Neil Poskitt (35) became notorious as wholesale sellers of high street electricals bought by East Riding Council selling £25,000 worth of iPods out of the council's back door. They had a 50-50 split.

Hinks was sacked as a senior housing manager on £40,000 in charge of maintenance of 1,000 homes. He was jailed in January for 21 months, but released early after serving less half of his sentence to face an asset recovery enquiry to claw back the proceeds of crime.

Hinks, who told prosecutors he felt over looked at the council for promotion, was surrounded by friends when he appeared again at Hull Crown Court on Tuesday (September 2).

The courts were told in January they made false orders for plasma televisions, digital boxes, a remote control lighting system, a karaoke machine, roof windows, and electronic garage gates.

"Paul Hinks was in a position of authority which meant that items ordered by him were simply not questioned," said Crown barrister Mr Simon Waley. "He bought a camera for his sister which she paid £150. He bought velux window for his brother worth £1,200. He also admitted stealing £25,000 worth of i-Pods. He was to tell people if they bought four they got one free. Then he would give them it saying: "Do not tell anyone!" They bought motorcycle accessories worth £11,000. A heated motorcycle vest and boots. They stole car parts worth £34,000. Neil Poskitt appeared to be building a kit car at taxpayers' expense. There were two plasma televisions worth £6,000, a karaoke machine. There was 60 satellite navigation systems, hair straightners, clock radios, sun glasses. Items for a caravan, sleeping bags and a leaving present for a work mate - a model steam engine."

Looking tired and grim faced before Judge Simon Jack, Hinks through his barrister agreed to hand over a building society cheque for £55,000 at Hull Crown Court this week.

Crown barrister Jharna Jobes told the judge at the latest hearing: "You will have read in the papers he pleaded guilty along with another to conspiring to steal a total of £100,000 from East Riding Council. The benefit figure agreed for his part is £55,000. The amount recoverable is the same figure. It is the intention of the police to hand that money over to the council as compensation."

Married Hinks of Parkway, Snaith, and Poskitt his council junior of Murtle Avenue, Selby, both had orders on their homes to freeze their assets.

Hinks' defence barrister Mr Gateshill asked for the freezing order to be lifted - but the Crown said technically until the cheque cleared that would not be done. Mr Gateshill told his original hearing: "He is now a self-employed electrician and kitchen fitter. Although he was in a senior role, it may well be that he was not suitable for that position. He worked very long hours. He was unable to relax. Emotionally he was at a low ebb. He now he will have to pay back the money and that will affect his family. They are all standing by him."

Hinks was allowed to walk free from the hearing. Speaking outside court, Humberside police senior financial investigator Helen Baines said: "This order will hurt Mr Hinks more than his prison sentence. We have recovered £55,000 for the tax payers of the East Riding area. This was money he stole from the council and we have endeavoured to recover as much as possible in order the Mr Hinks does not benefit from crime. He has re-mortgaged his share of the property. He has served his sentence but it does not stop there."

Neil Poskitt, a housing maintenance officer with two children, will face a similar court appearance at Hull Crown Court on November 2. He was jailed for 18-months by Judge Michael Mettyear who told both men they had committed "disgraceful dishonesty."