Gambler stole £62,000from children’scharity
THE treasurer of a children’s charity in Glasgow is facing jail for embezzling more than £62,000 to fund a gambling addiction.
Karen McCormack, 49, a former Glasgow City Council employee, took money from the South Glasgow Childcare Parternership Forum (SGCPF, which runs the Bookbug programme in Glasgow on behalf of the Scottish Book Trust.
She stole the money on different occasions during a 14-month period when she was in charge of the account.
She was rumbled when another volunteer paid a cheque into the account and noticed discrepancies.
She confronted McCormack who confessed: “I took the money”.
McCormack, from Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, pleaded guilty to embezzling £62,250, a crime branded “shameful” by Sheriff Johanna Johnston, between April 2016 and June, last year.
The court heard McCormack was employed by Glasgow City Council inspecting nurseries and volunteered with the charity as their treasurer with responsibility for the account.
Procurator fiscal depute Deborah Carroll said: “The embezzlement had a significant impact on the finances of the charity.
“At the time of the reporting it was unclear whether the charity had the finances to continue.
“They had enough money to continue until March.
“They have been able to secure funding, so it can continue.”
On June 23, last year, another volunteer paid a cheque into the bank and requested a statement.
She noticed a number of discrepancies with large number of payments having been with- drawn by the accused for events which had not happened.
Miss Carroll said she confronted McCormack and said: “Please don’t tell me this is what I think it is.”
McCormack confessed: “I took the money” and said “I’m so sorry”.
She explained she was using it for online gambling and didn’t know how to tell her.
The charity account showed 65 transactions when money had been transferred to McCormack’s account and used for gambling.
It was heard there has been no repayment yet.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Book Trust, which runs the Bookbug programme, said: “Karen McCormack volunteered with the charity South Glasgow Childcare Partnership Forum (SGCPF). This is one of the many local charity organisations with whom Scottish Book Trust works, but is completely independent from Bookbug itself. SGCPF delivers Bookbug activities as part of their programme.
“The money in question does not belong to Bookbug.”
Sheriff Johnston QC deferred sentence for reports.