Mum ripped off bosses for £53,000

A MOTHER-of-four who ripped off two employers for more than £53,000 has been jailed for 18 months for what a sheriff described as “a grave breach of trust”.

Lorna Brand, 54, of Westwood, West Calder, had pleaded guilty previously at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to embezzling £25,734 while employed by GWC (UK) Ltd in West Calder between November 2, 2007, and November 5, 2008.

She also admitted embezzling £27,433.58 while working for Jefcoate Anderson Architects Ltd and Lothian Design and Build Ltd in Penicuik between June 14, 2009, and April 21, 2010.

Defence solicitor Mark Harrower told Sheriff James Scott that Mr and Mrs Brand had got themselves into considerable debt, around £40,000.

At the time of the offences, he said, Mr Brand was working away from home most of the time and was also troubled by a gambling addiction.

Sheriff Scott said Mrs Brand’s embezzlement of a substantial sum of money was a grave breach of trust.

He sentenced her to 18 months’ prison on both charges to run concurrently.