‘She is highly valued and selfless’ – defence solicitor

A DEFENCE solicitor said Lucie Holland is a ‘highly valued and selfless person’ and the frauds were ‘not the most sophisticated’.

Rachel White told the court that Holland had ‘massaged her sales figures to hit an unrealistic target’ in 2011 and left the company ‘of her own volition’ but was invited back as an agent ‘because she was such an invaluable resource’.

She said Holland accepted carrying out the mobile phone frauds but stressed that the customers were not affected and the loss fell on both the defendant and Matrix247 ‘50-50’.

The court was told that there is ‘no deliberate pattern or link’ between Holland’s frauds and the staff member being ill in hospital and it was ‘coincidental’ because the offences happened between 2014 and 2017.

Miss White said: “These are perhaps not the most sophisticated of frauds and maybe she got away with it for so long because of its simplicity.”

The barrister said Holland had worked for Manchester homeless charity Lifeshare for eight years and recently started a new project with the Freedom Church to help homeless people this winter.

The court was told that Holland had also been involved for many years with animal rescue chari- ties and was ‘considered a highly valued and selfless person who had shown empathy and compassion for others’.

Miss White said: “Her work was obviously her life and gave her a great sense of achievement and self-esteem. She was extremely good at what she did and made a lot of profit for the business, notwithstanding this theft.”

Judge Jonathan Gibson said Holland was now in ‘difficult financial circumstances’ and ordered no compensation be awarded to Matrix247.

Sentencing, he said: “You were in breach of a high degree of trust. You continued what you did while another employee was off work seriously ill.

“What you did caused some financial harm to your employer and had an effect on the business.

“They had to try and repair the damage you caused.”