Secretary jailed for ten months
A COMPANY secretary who stole almost £20,000 has been jailed for ten months.
Carole Martin (48) admitted using forged cheques to buy Euros and travellers cheques from the post office.
The former bank clerk then converted the foreign currency back into sterling by using a travel agents.
Lincoln Crown Court heard Martin, of Haconby Lane, Morton, was trusted to run the day to day affairs of registered charity Lincoln Red Cattle Society from its office on the Lincolnshire showground.
Phil Howes, prosecuting, told the court more than 50 cheques with forged signatures were presented to Lincoln's Bailgate post office during the four years Martin was employed by the society.
Mr Howes said the sub-postmaster was "taken in" by Martin's appearance and her assurances that the currency was for the society's overseas business.
The court heard Martin tried to cover up the missing money by entering false amounts onto the society's computer system. The society only became aware of the losses after Martin left her job.
Mr Howes said there was no evidence of where the money taken by Martin had gone. When questioned by police, Martin told them: "I can't say I went out and had a good time."
During interview, Martin admitted the job was "too much for her". The court was told she received a caution from police in October 2005 for stealing 300 from a previous employer.
Martin admitted six charges of using a false instrument and the theft of 19,460 from Lincoln Red Cattle Society between September 2005 and March 2009.
Edna Leonard, mitigating, told the court Martin had saved just under 6,000 from taking on a number of mundane jobs and wanted to pay the money back to the society.
Miss Leonard added: "She genuinely regrets what has happened and wants to apologise to those who she has let down. These offences have brought utter shame on her and her family.
"She wasn't, however, living a lavish lifestyle. When police searched her home there was no evidence of anything such as fancy clothes."
Passing sentence, Recorder Richard Swain told Martin it was clear she had abused a position of trust by stealing from her employers.
He said: "Yours is a very sad case," but he added "Whilst employed by a registered charity you stole from them in the region of 20,000."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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