Car firm embezzler gets community service

A WOMAN who embezzled £100,000 from her employers has been ordered to carry out 300 hours of community service.

Lisa Hedley, 36, who was described by employers as “trustworthy” admitted embezzling the cash from Western Toyota in Edinburgh and frittering it away on treating family members.

Hedley would pocket cash deposits customers paid to her for new cars. Her scam went undetected for three years as she adjusted records to show customers’ accounts were credited.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard Hedley, of Plover Crescent, Dunfermline, carried out the offence because she had low self-esteem and was suffering from depression.

Fiscal depute Dev Kapadia said Hedley had worked at the company since 1994 and was not initially suspected because she was known as a trust- worthy employee. He said: “[Hedley] was actually involved in the initial stages of the investigation.”

The court heard Hedley, who wept in the dock, was on a salary of around £22,000 but boosted her income with more than £25,000 annually.

She pled guilty to carrying out the embezzlement between April 1, 2006, and May 1, 2009, at Western Toyota, Sighthill.

Sheriff Alistair Noble said he would impose the maximum hours of community service as a direct alternative to custody.