A Kingussie bank teller who embezzled almost £8,000 from her employers avoided a jail sentence yesterday – because she had repaid the money.
Instead, Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood ordered Kerry Macdonald to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.
But he warned the 36-year-old that, if she failed to comply with the order, she would be brought back to court and face a jail sentence.
Macdonald, of Dunbarry Terrace, had earlier admitted a charge of embezzling £7,950 from her bank while working as a teller between October 26, 2012 and October 29, 2012.
She also admitted failing to appear for a court hearing.
Last year, fiscal depute Roderick Urqhart told the court: “Kerry Anne Macdonald was employed as a bank teller with the Bank of Scotland at High Street, Kingussie for about five years.
“This embezzlement came to light following a complaint from a customer about a shortfall in an account. As a result a detailed analysis of the branch accounts was carried out and it transpired that during the period, Macdonald had withdrawn money from customers’ accounts without authority and paid it into her own account.
“As a consequence, she was suspended by the Bank and the embezzlement reported to the police. The loss was borne by the Bank and not by any customer.”
Defence solicitor advocate Shahid Latif said at the time: “It was an act of desperation at a desperate time in her life. She is aware she has brought shame on herself and her family and is attempting to make amends and attempts to pay the money back. She has some assets.”
Sheriff Fleetwood deferred sentence for good behaviour and repayment on several occasions and yesterday Macdonald returned to court to learn her fate.
Mr Latif told the court that full repayment had been made by his client. He added: “Remorse, regret and shame cascade throughout the background report on her.”
The Sheriff said: “Despite her valiant efforts I can’t draw a line under this. I ruled out a custodial sentence but I have not excluded the alternative of unpaid work.
“However I give her full credit for making an attempt to repair the damage.”