Mum plundered £250k from car firm where she worked

A WOMAN who embezzled more than £248,000 from a car dealership blamed her brother’s gambling debt.

Andrea Gibson, 31, stole the money over a three-year period while employed as an Accounts Assistant for Evans Halshaw.

The mother-of-one “manipulated financial systems” to cover 45 transactions made to her personal bank accounts.

Gibson later told investigators she blamed her “brother’s gambling debt” for her behaviour.

Gibson pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to embezzling a total of £248,652.85 between March 2015 and March 2018.

She was only caught when she went on maternity leave and irregularities came light.

The court heard Gibson had worked for Evans Halshaw for seven years before her promotion to Accounts Assistant in 2014.

Prosecutor Debbie Carroll said: “She forged and falsified documents and manipulated the accounts of the company in an attempt to cover her activities and avoid detection.”

Gibson created four credit notes that showed outstanding payments from the Ford UK car company.

But the money was going directly into the bank account her wages were paid into by Evans Halshaw.

Gibson was snared by the financial controller when she to went on maternity leave in January last year.

Miss Carroll added: “The controller became aware of anomalies and financial irregularities.”

Gibson initially denied stealing money from the company, but after Ford UK carried out their own investigation she confessed

Miss Carroll added: “Gibson stated her brother had a gambling debt and didn’t know what to do, she made reference that she would return the money.

“Gibson stated she only transferred money into one account and she couldn’t confirm the exact amount. She then handed over a hand-written resignation letter.”

Gibson later admitted another bank account was also used to transfer money.

She was later interviewed by police and gave a no comment interview.

Lawyer, Callum Hiller, defending, told the court Gibson is “well aware” she could go to jail.

He added: “She is now unemployed, but is attending college studying childcare.”

Sheriff Martin Jones QC told Gibson, from Dalmarnock, that custody is “inevitable”.

He deferred sentence for reports until next month and Gibson was bailed meantime.

A proceeds of crime hearing will also take place next month.