Rowling sues over alleged theft

HARRY Potter author JK Rowling is suing her former personal assistant for £24,000 ($43,000) for allegedly stealing memorabilia and using a company credit card on a spending spree.

Rowling (pictured) claims Amanda Donaldson took Harry Potter merchandise and spent thousands behind her back, including £1600 on Starbucks coffee.

Donaldson, 35, began working for Rowling in February 2014 but was sacked last April after Rowling’s husband uncovered the alleged fraud when the PA stole money intended for a Christmas party.

Legal papers filed by Rowling, who has a £650 million fortune, claim Donaldson wrongly benefited to a value of £23,696.32 by using a business credit card to buy high-end cosmetics, food and even two luxury cats.

Donaldson, who had responsibility for company funds, is alleged to have “fraudulently” marked entries on accounts as either for business or personal use by her boss. The financial inaccuracies were picked up by accountants last February.

The former PA, who controlled memorabilia requests from fans, is also accused of using her position to help herself to collectors’ items, including a Harry Potter Wizard Collection worth £2231.76.

Rowling says the toys were taken without her “knowledge or consent”. The author also claimed Donaldson took £7742 in cash from a safe.

The alleged fraud began to unravel when Rowling’s husband Neil Murray, 47, contacted a restaurant in Edinburgh to check that Donaldson had organised and paid £400 for a 2016 Christmas party.

But court documents state that the event at Castle Terrace Restaurant was never arranged despite Donaldson allegedly taking the deposit from Rowling’s business account.

Donaldson denied the claims and said the purchases were business-related. She said Rowling had “not suffered any loss and is not entitled to damages” from her