Former dental practice manager, Alan Thomson, aged 36, has been sentenced to a year in jail after being found guilty of stealing equipment worth £120,000 from his former employers in Coatbridge. Additionally, Thomson was charged with impersonating his ex-boss in an attempt to transfer £50,000 from a savings account, as reported by the Daily Record. The sentencing took place at Airdrie Sheriff Court. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Thomson had a drug addiction and committed the crimes in order to pay off his debts.
Thomson, hailing from Falkirk, confessed to stealing dental equipment, electrical items, and computer gear from Coatbridge Family Dental Care over a four-day period in July 2023. He also admitted to engaging in a fraudulent scheme in August of the same year by masquerading as Keith Preston, the owner of the dental practice, and attempting to transfer a substantial sum from Preston’s account. Thomson had previously faced a £470 fine at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for theft while managing a TK Maxx store in Hermiston Gait in 2022.
Dr. Keith Preston, clinical director at Coatbridge Family Dental Care, expressed the significant impact Thomson’s actions had on the practice, stating that they were shocked and deeply saddened by his behaviour. Thomson began working as a practice manager at the dental surgery in February 2023 but was dismissed shortly after for underperformance.
Thomson’s defence lawyer, Eddie Kelly, explained that Thomson’s criminal actions stemmed from a serious drug addiction following the death of his sister and mounting debts. Kelly highlighted Thomson’s deteriorating mental health and poor decision-making as contributing factors to his crimes. Despite character references presenting Thomson as a respected individual from a stable family background, Sheriff Paul Haran deemed the charges as extremely serious, resulting in a custodial sentence.
In summary, Alan Thomson, a former dental practice manager, has been convicted and sentenced to a year in jail for stealing equipment and attempting fraudulent activities towards his former employers in Coatbridge. Thomson’s drug addiction and personal struggles were cited as underlying reasons for his criminal behaviour, leading to significant consequences for both himself and the dental practice he was associated with.