Hospital manager stole £10k-worth of computer kit

Stephen Dorrington got a "thrill" from stealing from the hospital, the court was told

A hospital manager used his access-all-areas pass to steal almost £10,000-worth of computer equipment, a court heard.

Stephen Dorrington, 33, targeted the Princess Alexandra Hospital, in Harlow, Essex, between January 2019 and August 2022.

He told police officers, who seized laptops and other hardware during a raid of his house, that he got a "thrill" out of his offending.

Dorrington, of Tithelands, Harlow, admitted theft and was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Recorder Elizabeth Isaacs KC said he used his "good character and position at the hospital" to steal equipment worth £9,670.

"It is plain this had a direct impact on a financially beleaguered NHS trust where staff are just trying to do their best with the limited resources available to them," she said.

Stephen Dorrington, who worked at the hospital for 10 years, resigned after his arrest

Dorrington was a manager in the hospital's estate team with full control over the security system, prosecutor David Barr said.

Suspicions were raised about him after thefts were made from an IT unit he accessed using his personal key card.

One item Dorrington stole was a device used to call a doctor during a major incident, Ms Isaacs said.

In a statement read to the court, the hospital's IT project manager, Sarah Wilcox, said he had "abused his position within the trust".

"The level of trust and responsibly has been totally betrayed by Stephen with the actions he has committed," she added.

Chelmsford Crown Court was told Dorrington felt "genuine remorse"

Dorrington's barrister said the stolen items had been recovered by police and could be returned to the hospital.

"There is genuine remorse displayed by him for his actions," he said, adding that Dorrington had been kicked out of the family home since his arrest.

Ms Isaacs said Dorrington, who worked at the hospital for 10 years, must undertake 200 hours of unpaid work.

She made a further order for Dorrington to carry out 25 days of rehabilitation and pay £200 in costs.