An Aberdeen leasing manager made up false statements at home in order to con her company out of more than £8,500 after racking up credit card debts.
Laura Downie committed the “gross breach of trust” while working as a leasing manager for legal firm Ledingham Chalmers.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told the 43-year-old mum would take money from clients without paying the cash into the company bank account.
Downie – a first offender – managed a team of four people and was trusted to deal with rent, deposits, and other costs such as charges for the removal of items from properties.
Carried out on 15 separate occasions
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann explained that Downie was the “only person responsible” for overseeing the day-to-day management of properties and monies connected.
Mr McMann said: “In carrying out the commission of the offence the accused was found to be creating false statements at home which were not generated through the business software.”
The fiscal depute explained that Downie would attach these statements to an email using her business email address and send these to customers and third parties.
She met clients in person, was paid in cash and would not give them receipts for these transactions.
He added: “The accused was found to have carried out these activities on approximately 15 separate occasions.”
‘A trusted member of staff’
During an internal investigation Downie, who had worked with the company for around 20 years, was dismissed.
Downie pleaded guilty to the charge of embezzling £8,506.50 between March 8 2017 and January 13 2020.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly: “It was a breach of trust over a protracted period. She was a trusted member of staff and she has let them down badly.
“As a result of this offence she has lost her job, her marriage and most of her friendship circle. She knows there is a chance she will lose her liberty.
“Credit card debts had built up and her husband took control of the finances, however, there were still some outstanding debts which were building.
“That’s when she started embezzling.
“She’s shown remorse, she’s extremely ashamed and has, as a result, suffered mental health issues since.”
‘Gross breach of trust’
Mr Kelly highlighted that Downie has now repaid the entire amount, which has been confirmed by Ledingham Chalmers.
Sheriff Graham Buchanan described this as a “gross breach of trust”, however, explained that the threshold for a custodial sentence was not met.
Downie, of Millside Drive, Aberdeen, was then ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.
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