Woman stole from one custormer to repay cash taken from another

A travel agent stole from a customer, and then stole from another to repay the first.

Karen Park also used cash taken from both men to pay for her own holiday.

The 49-year-old was caught after bosses carried out an audit at the Perth store.

Depute fiscal Carol Whyte told Perth Sheriff Court: “The accused worked at the locus as a travel agent and had been employed there for about 15 years.

“The amount taken was £857.12. One account was held by Mr Turriff, another by Mr Riley.

“Mr Turriff paid in £280 in cash. At that time he didn’t have time to wait for a receipt and the accused took that amount.

“She had taken Mr Riley’s card details when he called to make a payment over the telephone and she used that to repay the money in Mr Turriff’s payment account. Mr Riley’s details were also used to make a payment to her own holiday account.

“The matter came to light during a branch audit and the accused has subsequently lost her employment.”

Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said Park was “very ashamed” of her actions and said she was struggling to deal with the death of her father eight years ago.

Park of The Avenue, Forgandenny, admitted that while working as a travel agent she embezzled £857.12 at the Co-operative travel agency, on Perth’s North Methven Street, between January 24 and August 24 2015.

Sheriff William Wood ordered her to repay the full amount and to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

He placed her on an 18-month supervision order.