Manager stole £10k to fund habit

A post office manager has appeared in court after stealing more than £10,000 to fund a cocaine habit.

Victoria Rogers, 34, admitted taking the cash between July 2017 and October 2017 when she was manager at the Newtown Post Office in Boldon Colliery.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told at one point Rogers, of Lorrain Road, Whiteleas, South Shields, was taking up to four bags of cocaine a day at a cost of £50 a bag.

Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said an investigation was launched when customers started to complain the bills they had been paying at the post office were not being credited on their accounts.

She said it was found 78 reversals had been carried out – which is where a cashier can reverse the transaction if they make a mistake, but it is done in front of the customer who is shown the refund.

However, Rogers was carrying out the reversals and pocketing the money. The post office had to reimburse the customers a total of £10,851.35.

“She said she was under the influence of cocaine throughout this period and can’t really remember taking the cash.

“But, stated it was her and she used the money to buy cocaine.

“She said she would like to pay the money back, but had not realised until now what this had totaled up to over the period.”

Jason Smith, defending, said mother-of-two Rogers was of previous good character, but her life changed when her 14-year relationship broke down in December 2016.

The case was adjourned to November 6 for sentencing.