Worker faked robbery to hide cash she embezzled... but dodges jail

A GAMBLING addict who faked a robbery to cover up embezzling cash from the firm where she worked has dodged jail.

Karen Main embezzled a total of £23,000 of company funds.

The 49-year-old claimed an intruder robbed her of £1,985 of £2,559 she was allowed to hold as a float and also targeted a large number of customers by fraudulently issuing loans.

However, at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday Main’s defence solicitor Grant Daglish persuaded Sheriff Margaret Neilson not to jail her.

The court heard Main, from Burghead, Moray, had a gambling addiction and had been a victim of domestic abuse.

Mr Daglish said: ‘Although she asked customers to take out the loans, they were aware they were for her and she was paying them.

‘Her gambling was an issue

‘She has lost everything’

for the debt as well as abuse by her ex-partner. This is a lady who got herself in a bit of a mess and panicked.’

He added: ‘She would like to attempt to repay [the money], but with her financial situation, it is not feasible. She has lost everything.’

Sheriff Neilson ordered Main to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work, be under one year of social work supervision and remain in her home between 7pm and 7am for the next six months.

Main, who had worked for Provident UK for 20 years, admitted embezzling monies and wasting police time over an inquiry following her claim she had been robbed. Sentence was deferred previously.

Fiscal depute Robert Weir told Sheriff Neilson that Main issued loans without customers’ knowledge and then later claimed they had been issued accidentally. He added: ‘None of the customers are out of pocket, only Provident UK.’