A council manager, Bobby Lee Smith, is sentenced after stealing 129 Chromebook laptops and 301 iPads valued at £124,644.96, which were intended for vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to reports, the devices go missing from a council-linked supply or distribution arrangement and are earmarked for support for vulnerable residents. The Independent reports the thefts come to light through an investigation by NHS counter fraud officers, who identify that the devices are missing. Other outlets describe the same case and sentencing outcome, but with less detail on the investigative pathway.
Across the sources, there is agreement on the broad outline: Smith is convicted and sentenced in relation to the theft of large numbers of tablets and laptops, and the items are specifically connected to a programme aimed at helping vulnerable people during the pandemic.
