Woman who stole £30,000 from employer spared jail
A woman who stole more than £30,000 from her employer has been spared jail because of her responsibilities as a mother.
Tracie Anne Brookes, 56, of Mill Street, Prees, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to one charge of fraud.
Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, told how Brookes was an office manager at Prees Heath Forest Nursery, in Prees.
The court heard that how Brookes had been trusted by the business owner David Gwillam who promoted her to her position.
Judge Laura Hobson heard how Brookes had been considered a friend and they had spent time outside work in each other's company.
Between October 2015 and May 2018, Brookes stole £30,934.70 from the business – spending the money on personal items and garden furniture.
The court was told how Brookes had engineered a move to using internet banking for the company finances, and had log-in details for the account.
She was responsible for a number of the business's financial arrangements, including staff wages, paying invoices and refunds.
Mr Aspinall said that the fraud was discovered when Mr Gwillam had attempted to use the company credit card only for it to be declined.
The court heard that the card had exceeded the limit of £7,900.
When challenged, Brookes told Mr Gwillam that she had spent the money on personal items and garden furniture but intended to pay it back.
Brookes immediately went off sick with depression for a month, during which time Mr Gwillam employed another accountant who discovered more fraudulent transactions she had carried out.
They had involved fake refunds and invoices.
When arrested and interviewed by police, Brookes accepted taking the money but said Mr Gwillam was "very generous" and "looked to help people".
She said she had been given permission to take the money, and that some were gifts and bonuses.
Brookes added that there was an agreement not to add the money to her wages so as not to affect her ability to claim benefits – a point Mr Aspinall said would have made her a benefit cheat.
He said: "It appears that in any event she had an easy readiness to turn on Mr Gwillam, someone who had been paying her wages for 10 years at the time the fraud was discovered."
The court heard how the fraud had impacted the business, leading to Mr Gwillam having to provide £10,000 of his own money to stop it being overdrawn.
The impact of the fraud on the victim was outlined, with a statement from Mr Gwillam saying: "That betrayal will never go away."
Judge Hobson revealed that Brookes had made allegations against Mr Gwillam to deflect from her offending.
She said: "Mr Gwillam trusted you. You took advantage of his trust. When you were found out as I heard you made accusations against him which I have heard caused him hurt and anger."
Judge Hobson added that she was "not convinced you feel any particular remorse for what you have done".
But she said that because of Brooke's lack of previous convictions, that she had committed no offences since her arrest, and her parental responsibilities, she was prepared to suspend her sentence.
Brookes was given 21 months custody, suspended for 18 months.
As part of her suspended sentence order she must also complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and will be subject to a 'low level mental health treatment requirement'.