A trusted great-grandmother stole more than £8,000 from the solicitors’ firm she worked for after becoming ‘seduced’ by an online bingo addiction.
Kimberley Upcott, 65, from Cardiff , was spared jail when she was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to fraud.
The former employee of Loosemores Solicitors, based in High Street, Cardiff, had worked as a senior accounts clerk for 36 years when she confessed to the fraud on the day she was due to be made redundant.
The theft came to light in September 2015 when the firm’s managing directors discovered a discrepancy in transfers between client and office accounts, which Upcott was responsible for.
The court heard the defendant was called into a meeting with firm managing partner Linda Jones.
Regulator called in
She told Ms Jones she was “trying to put it right” before she left the next day.
When Ms Jones asked her if there was anything else she would find after Upcott had left the defendant broke down in tears and confessed she had been stealing cash from the company for a number of years.
It was later revealed that Upcott had stolen a total of £8,543 since 2011.
A total of £5,876 of the money belonged to clients, who were reimbursed by Loosemores.
Upcott was able to conceal the fraud by falsifying account documents and taking cash without banking it.
As a result of the fraud Loosemores had to notify the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) who launched an investigation into Upcott’s actions and the conduct of the firm.
After the months-long investigation the SRA later established that Loosemores were blameless and no further action was taken against them.
'Extremely distressing'
In a victim personal statement, read out by prosecutor Julian Greenwood, Ms Jones, writing on behalf of the firm, described the day of Upcott’s confession as the “worst day” of her professional career.
She added: “I had known Kimberley for over 30 years and in that time I trusted her implicitly.
“The fact she had manipulated financial records was a shock and my focus shifted to getting through the position we found ourselves in.
“I had to console and support work colleagues who were devastated by her actions.”
Ms Jones added: “I had an unblemished professional record, as did my partners, and never before had we been visited by the SEA.
“It was extremely distressing for me as we remained under threat of disciplinary action and we had many sleepless nights during the investigation.”
'Genuine shame'
The court heard that Upcott, of Llanrumney , had a problem with online bingo and online gambling, which was where the majority of the funds she had stolen were used.
Defence barrister Adam Sharpe said his client had suffered a dramatic “fall from grace” in a 36-year career which had previously been “without blemish”.
He told the court that Upcott’s redundancy payment of £6,050 had been forfeited as a result of her misconduct and that she felt “genuine shame and remorse” on her part.
Mr Sharpe added: “She has been seduced by the attraction of online bingo and gambling.”
The court also heard that the council home Upcott shared with her mother had been repossessed in 2012 and she was now living with her ex-husband out of “financial necessity”.
'Devastating effect'
Mr Sharpe said: “This is a lady unlikely ever to offend again who has tarnished her reputation and bears the shame of what she has done.
“The impact of her going into custody would be particularly profound and great to her and her family who think highly of her and are extremely supportive of her.”
Sentencing, Judge Patrick Curran told grandmother-of-five and great-grandmother-of-five Upcott that only a custodial sentence could be justified in her case.
He added: “The commission of this offence had had a devastating effect on your former employers, colleagues and staff at the firm but also on yourself, your family, and extended family.
“It’s very sad to see a woman of your age, who has never been before the court before, due to be sentenced for such a serious offence.”
Upcott, of Llanrumney Avenue, was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for two years.
She was also ordered to carry out an unpaid work requirement of 150 hours.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/trusted-great-gran-stole-8500-11929766
No comments:
Post a Comment