A worker was arrested on a charge of receiving wrongful credit after
being paid overpaid and using the cash on drugs and alcohol, according
to police in the United Kingdom.
Now, 43-year-old Steven Burke of North Yorks, has been ordered to repay
the company 28,000 pounds ($36,260) after receiving accidentally being
paid 44,660 pounds ($57,834) instead of 446.60 pounds ($577).
The judge has warned him that if he fails to repay the money, he will be sent to jail.
According to the police investigation, Burke received an extra $50,000
after his boss forgot to enter a decimal point during the payment of
446.60 pounds.
Burke, a former construction worker, spent 28,000 pounds on a new car,
cocaine, alcohol and hotels. He also spent money on designer clothes and
online gambling.
When questioned by police, Burke said that he thought he had been the
victim of a cyber crime. The company asked him to return the money, but
he ignored them.
The company managed to recover 15,000 pounds.