Supervisor stole cash at work to pay loan shark

A YOUNG woman who was heavily in debt to a loan shark began taking money from her work where she was employed as a supervisor.

Laura Stacey, 22, of Quarryfoot Gardens, Bonnyrigg, pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday to embezzling 455 from Brantano Footwear, Straiton Retail Park, between 22 August, 2008 and 4 January last year.

Fiscal depute Trevor Smith said part of Stacey's duties had been to make refunds to customers.

On 19 January last year, a routine stock audit revealed a number of refunds which did not match the stock. At least 12 of the receipts for refunds had been put through by Stacey.

Defence solicitor Jim Stephenson told Sheriff Kathrine Mackie that, by the time of the audit, Stacey had left the company and was not interviewed until January of this year. She told the police that she had been in debt at the time and had borrowed between 400 and 500 from a loan shark.

Over two years, the debt to the loan shark had risen to 9,000 and she had store card debts of 3,000. Mr Stephenson said his client was willing to repay the money taken from her former employers.

Sheriff Kathrine Mackie deferred sentenced for background reports.