Director who stole charity cash jailed

A charity director who stole over £5000 in donations which were meant for young carers was jailed for 11 months at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

George McFarlane of Stormont Road, Scone, set up fundraising poker nights but instead pocketed the money intended for charity.

He was found guilty of embezzling a total of £5118 from Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Services (PKAVS).

The 44-year-old also admitted filing false expenses claims to the tune of £2276.

Perth Sheriff Court heard the embezzlement was carried out between November 2011 and June 2014.

McFarlane had worked for PKAVS for 12 years and was managing young carers projects when he began the embezzlement.

During a four-day trial it heard that McFarlane had set up several fundraising poker nights in the Glen Bar in Perth.

But he failed to hand in the money from any of the events. The court was also told that the systems in place to check money raised at the charity were “a shambles”.

Depute fiscal Lisa Marshall previously told the city court: “He had achieved a reasonably high-ranking position and was in the trusted position of care manager.

“He systematically abused this position of trust for his own financial gain by embezzling funds raised at poker events.”

On Wednesday Linda Clark, for McFarlane, said that he had previously offered £2000 through her office to start repaying the sums.

McFarlane was reported to be “an exemplary employee.”

“He is ashamed with the situation he finds himself in,” the lawyer said.

In sentencing, Sheriff Gillian Wade said: “It’s a great shame you find yourself in this situation.

“You are not a man I would have expected to see in these courts.

“You find yourself convicted of a serious offence when you were in a position of trust

“It’s not something I can treat lightly and the only option is a custodial sentence.”