“The victims of this crime are ultimately the students of Andover College.”

Those were the words of a judge who sentenced the college’s former premises supervisor who abused his position to buy electrical items on his employer’s account and sell them for more than £23,000.

For 11 years Irwin Whincup worked at the campus and as part of his role was able to make purchases, for the college, up to a certain value using its card.

Between February 7, 2020, and May 21, 2023, Whincup exploited that trust and bought 35 items which he then sold on his own eBay account to the value of £23,774.26.

At Winchester Crown Court, on Friday, July 5, Whincup was given a 16-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, having previously pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation.

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(Image: Newsquest) The money the 57-year-old made was used to fund his gambling addiction, which the court heard had “blighted his life for many years”.

Whincup, who has apologised to the college, would use the money he gained from the eBay sales on gambling websites.

Luke Ponte, prosecuting, said: “The fraud was discovered by the college after Mr Whincup had resigned and [the college] reported it to the police.”

Mr Ponte said that Whincup was arrested in October 2023 and made full admission to the offence.

In mitigation, Rebecca Hadgett said that Whincup feels a “great deal of shame and embarrassment” and is someone of ‘exemplary conduct’.

Whincup, of Shaw Close, Andover, was previously in the armed forces for 24 years, rising to the rank of warrant officer, and completed tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ms Hadgett told the court that Whincup has been getting the support of the Southern Gambling Service and is continuing to discuss his gambling addiction with his wife.

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In sentencing, the judge, Recorder Toby Riley-Smith KC, said Whincup would take delivery of the items he bought and then upload them to his eBay account.

“You used this money to fund your gambling addiction. You have been gambling since you were a very young boy. Your gambling appears to be triggered by your past,” the judge added.

The court heard that two letters had been written to the judge, speaking highly of Whincup, one by a colonel in the army and another from one of Whincup’s current employers.

The judge continued: “You have served your country with distinction, and this is a tragic story, a tragic fall from grace.”

Along with the suspended sentence, the judge also ordered Whincup to pay back the amount he stole.

He added: “Your punishment is standing there in the dock, before me, with your wife in the public gallery, that is the true punishment and I know that that is one that weighs very heavily on you.”

Whincup is now working two jobs to pay back the more than £23,000 to the college.