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Accounts assistant embezzles £44,000 from her work to spend on treats like luxury trip to New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel and top jeweller Tiffany
A WOMAN embezzled tens of thousands of pounds from her work then lavished expensive treats on herself — including a luxury trip to New York.
Sharin Mooney enjoyed stays at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and bought from jewellers Tiffany & Co after stealing £44,000 from windfarm firm 2020 Renewables.
She had bought specialist document-altering software online and used it to change invoices in order for money to pour directly into her personal bank account.
She carried out the scam at the Greenock firm for nearly nine months before it unravelled. The 38-year-old former accounts assistant even made it look as though the personal assistant to 2020’s managing director had authorised the payments.
The largest single transaction was for more than £8000.
Prosecutor Pamela Brady told Greenock Sheriff Court suspicions arose after a staff member noticed a discrepancy with a copy invoice and asked Mooney to help find the original.
Brady said: “Weeks went by and the accused did not produce the invoice. She said that she was too busy.”
Further conflicting documentation was discovered as it emerged more than £16,000 was missing from the company’s accounts. The court heard an internal investigation at 2020 Renewables’ Pottery Street HQ uncovered a total of eight transactions of company cash into Mooney’s account between April 2 and December 23, 2014.
Mooney, from Johnstone, Renfrewshire, told bosses she had been suffering financial problems. Her defence said she had also taken on significant family debt after the death of her father.
Sheriff Derek Hamilton asked: “Has she put any money aside?”
Defence lawyer Ellen Macdonald replied: “No. She could make repayment but it would take some time.”
Sheriff Hamilton deferred sentence until next month for background reports and an electronic tagging order assessment.