An Elgin woman who was found guilty of embezzling almost £10,000 from a building society is still refusing to accept that she committed the crime.
Kaitlyn Brown maintains she didn’t illegally take £9,762 from the town’s Nationwide branch while she was employed there and is in no position to repay the money.
The 22-year-old was convicted after a trial at Elgin Sheriff Court of swindling the funds between August 31 and November 15 2019.
During that trial, she chose not to give evidence herself but her defence agent said her position was, and remains, that she was “simply not involved” in taking the money.
Elgin Nationwide worker maintains she didn’t embezzle the money
Upon her return to court for sentencing, following the preparation of background reports, her solicitor Matthew O’Neill said: “Her position is that it simply was not her that was involved in the embezzlement of the funds.
“The analysis of events in the background reports seems to focus more on the events beforehand to the alleged offences.
“At the time she was going through a difficult relationship. She had gone into a relationship with a former partner and it was one which was not positive in its nature.
“There’s a reference in the report to unfortunate incidents that occurred that left her not in a good position, particularly for someone so young.
“It has not always been plain sailing for her, but fortunately she has been able to progress matters for herself.”
The court heard Brown was now in full-time employment again and has her own accommodation. But she is in no position to repay the money.
“She is aware that the gravity of the offence means her short terms plans could be impacted,” Mr O’Neill added.
“Clearly the building society here has been required to operate at a loss due to the funds that have been taken out.
“Any form of compensation would have to be required to be a relatively modest payment. It might take a significant time for the wrong to be righted.”
Sheriff David Harvie told the solicitor it was a “difficult” case to dispose of given Brown had failed on three different occasions to give her account of things.
“There’s a reference to a disciplinary hearing and how she ‘couldn’t give any explanation for the missing money’ was the quote,” he said.
“There was no evidence led from your client. The disciplinary procedure, the trial and the reports were all opportunities for that yet her position is still only hinted at.”
Handed unpaid work
Mr O’Neill said Brown was unwell during the disciplinary process and that’s why she was unable to comply fully.
Sheriff Harvie told her: “This is a really serious offence. It’s a breach of trust and it’s a substantial sum of money.”
However, he said he took into account her young age and everything that had been said on her behalf.
Brown, of, Thornhill Drive, Elgin, was handed 200 hours of unpaid work and a one-year supervision order as a direct alternative to custody.
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