Children’s charity treasurer stole £62,000 to fund gambling addiction

THE treasurer of a children’s book charity is facing jail for embezzling more than £62,000 to fund a gambling addiction.

Karen Mccormack, 49, took money from Bookbug charity account on 65 different occasions during a 14-month period when she was in charge of the account.

She was discovered when another volunteer paid a cheque into the account and noticed discrepancies. She confronted Mccormack who confessed: “I took the money”.

At the time the charity were unsure if they would be able to continue past March this year, but have since secured funding.

Mccormack from Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, pled guilty to embezzling £62,250, a crime branded “shameful” by the sheriff, between April 2016 and June 2017.

The court heard Mccormack was employed by Glasgow City Council inspecting nurseries and volunteered with the Book Bug charity as their treasurer with responsibility for the account.

Bookbug – which started in 2002 – provides free books to children in Scotland with song and rhyme sessions to encourage families to read together.

Procurator fiscal depute Deborah Carroll said: “The embezzlement had a significant impact on the finances of the charity. At the time of the reporting it was unclear whether the charity had the finances to continue. They had enough money to continue until March. They have been able to secure funding, so it can continue.”

On June 23 last year, another Bookbug volunteer paid a cheque into the bank and requested a statement.

She noticed a number of discrepancies with large number of payments having been withdrawn by the accused for events which had not happened.

Miss Carroll said she confronted Mccormack and said “Please don’t tell me this is what I think it is.”

Mccormack confessed and said “I’m so sorry”. She explained she was using it for online gambling and didn’t know how to tell her.

The account showed 65 transactions when money had been transferred to Mccormack’s account and used for gambling. It was heard there has been no repayment yet.

Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC deferred sentence for reports.

It was unclear if the charity could continue