‘DESPERATE’ MUM STOLE £92 , 000 TO PAY FOR IVF TWINS
She used money for treatment abroad
A MUM embezzled more than £92,000 from her employers to pay for IVF treatment.
Debbie Stevenson, 37, was desperate for another child and started stealing the cash from the firm where she worked as a bookkeeper in August 2014.
She used the money to pay for infertility treatment, which involved trips to Greece.
She gave birth to twins in 2015 – but she then carried on siphoning money from packaging firm The Pitreavie Group in Glenrothes, Fife, until January last year
Stevenson – who also has an 18-year-old son – admitted embezzling a total of £92,181.64 from her employers.
Her solicitor Scott McKenzie told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court: “She started embezzling from the company primarily to fund IVF treatment.”
He said the treatment involved significant costs but her offending continued even after her children – now aged two-and-a-half – were born.
Stevenson’s husband was training to be an engineer and Mr McKenzie said: “She did end up under significant financial pressure.”
He added that she was ashamed about her behaviour, particularly in relation to the company director, and added: “She does realise the company suffered financial losses.
“She appreciates this is not a trivial offence.” He said Stevenson – who now lives in the north-east of England – posed a low risk of reoffending and stressed the impact on the family if she was behind bars.
Stevenson fears being sent to prison and parted from her children, the court heard.
Mr McKenzie said: “As far as the twins are concerned, there is no familial support in the area.
“Her husband works full-time. He would have to give up his work to look after the children.”
Sheriff Gilchrist deferred sentence for three weeks to allow for assessment of the suitability of Stevenson’s home in Boldon Colliery, Tyneside, for the curfew order.
She appreciates this is not a trivial offence SCOTT McKENZIE, DEFENDING