JK Rowling sniffs out a crime after PA’S perfume purchases gave away embezzlement
JK ROWLING knew she had been defrauded by her former personal assistant when she found out £3,629 was spent on toiletries – even though her husband is allergic to perfume.
Amanda Donaldson was yesterday ordered to repay £18,734 to the Harry Potter author after a court ruled she obtained the money using a credit card fraudulently. After the civil case at Airdrie Sheriff Court, Sheriff Derek O’carroll said in a written determination that “having obtained £18,734 from the pursuer by means of her fraudulent misrepresentation”, Donaldson is bound to repay the sum to her former employer together with interest at 8 per cent.
The sheriff added that the expenditure on Molton Brown toiletries of £3,629 was “extraordinary”. Giving evidence, the author said she had not asked Donaldson to buy the toiletries, since her husband is allergic to strong perfumes, so she would never have bought them for home or office use.
A statement issued on behalf of Ms Rowling said she was “pleased” with the ruling. “From the outset Ms Rowling made it clear that the decision to take this matter to court was a last resort and not for her personal benefit but rather to protect the reputation of her existing staff and to make sure Ms Donaldson is not in a position to breach the trust of another employer. Terms of the recovery will be decided in due course and the money will be donated to the charity Lumos.”
Mr Rowling alleged Donaldson made transactions including more than £3,000 in retailer Molton Brown, £2,139 in card shop Paper Tiger and more than £1,619 in Starbucks and Costa coffee shops on a company credit card without authorisation.
Mr O’carroll found Donaldson had use of a business credit card in her name but knew and understood it was not to be used for her personal benefit. He did not find Donaldson to be either “credible or reliable”.
Donaldson was Ms Rowling’s PA from February 2014 until her dismissal in April 2017.