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IT boss jailed for plundering Scottish library

Of money, not books

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The technology boss of the National Library of Scotland has been jailed for two years for embezzling money.

David Dinham, a 33-year-old Australian, was chief information officer for the library and in charge of a £1.8m budget to digitise the collection.

After making a small purchase on his company credit card, Dinham realised no checks were being made. Between 2006 and 2010 he blew £260,000.

Dinham also handed his own company, Raith Solutions, library contracts worth £240,000, The Scotsman reports.

Authorities found Raith, of which Dinham was sole director, won 10 contracts. It is not clear what, if any, services were provided.

A confiscation hearing to recover the rest of the £350,000 will take place in September. Dinham has already paid back £150,000 and is involved with the Baptist Church.

Despite defence claims that he was suffering from depression and calls from social workers that he be spared a custodial sentence so his treatment could continue, Sheriff Alastair Noble said prison was inevitable given the gravity of the offences. ®

Cloud based data management

Irrelevant content

"Dinham ... is involved with the Baptist Church"

So what? His religion obviously didn't stop him from nicking the cash in the first place, so why should I care whether/where he is praying now?

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I wonder if....

...they threw the book at him.

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Credit card spending vesus awarding contracts

The 'I was depressed' defence can surely only cover the personal spending on a credit card, setting up a company and then awarding yourself 10 contracts is not a spur of the moment activity!

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