A MAN accused of invoicing a Studley-based haulage firm for nearly £170,000 of parts which had not been supplied has been found not guilty.

David Tout, aged 41, of Grange Crescent, Halesowen, had pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to charges of theft and fraud.

It was alleged that between April 2010 and June last year Tout stole parts worth £168,731 from his employers Truck and Trailer Equipment Ltd based in Hawes Lane, Rowley Regis, in the West Midlands.

He was also accused of fraudulently making false representations to Allelys General Haulage Ltd of Slough Lane, Studley, over the same period.
Tout was said to have invoiced the haulage firm for parts worth £168,731 when, it was alleged, no such parts had been supplied.

His trial had been due to take place in November, but the case was listed again at the request of the prosecution.

And prosecutor Iain Willis said that even though a great deal of additional evidence had been served since the original hearing in June, it was not sufficient for the case to go before a jury and the case would be dropped.

“The prosecution now take the view that there is not a reasonable prospect of conviction.”

Mr Willis explained: “It is difficult to quantify what was stolen or whether it was ever delivered to the company which had allegedly ordered it because the paperwork was in such a bad state.”

He pointed out that had led to the prospect that there were others who had the opportunity to steal.

Telling the judge that he was therefore offering no further evidence against Tout, Mr Willis added that he had spoken to the directors of both companies and they understand the reason for the decision.

So Judge Richard Griffith-Jones formally entered not guilty verdicts in relation to both charges against Tout.