A pharmacy worker who stole more than £25,000 from her employers has been given more time to pay them back.
Jennifer Brown, previously admitted embezzling the cash from Baird’s Pharmacy in Mid Street, Keith, where she had worked for more than 30 years.
The 49-year-old appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday for sentencing, but the matter was deferred to give her more time to pay the money back.
The court previously heard Brown had already paid back £6,500, but yesterday she said she had now put her house on the market so she can clear the rest of her debt.
During her employment at the chemists, Brown became a close family friend of the owners and even attended their daughter’s wedding.
But at the start of 2011, she began embezzling money and by June 2012 she had taken £26,548. She was only caught after discrepancies were noticed in the accounts while she was on long-term sick leave.
Fiscal depute Alison Wyllie told the court last month: “She did it a couple of times, got away with it and went from there.”
After Brown, of 51 Land Street, Keith, admitted the theft in March this year, her former boss spoke at his shock of being betrayed by someone he regarded as a “family friend.”
Robert Baird said she had first started as a teenage trainee at the chemist, working her way up to become a senior and “trusted” member of staff.
He said: “She was our longest-serving employee and also a family friend.
“She was very good at her job and, as the business grew, she developed as a senior member of staff, and her salary reflected that.
“We trusted her and she betrayed us.”
First offender Brown will return to court for sentencing on October 2.