Treasurer dodges jail after stealing £34,000 from her own church

Rosemary Reid embezzled more than 34,000 from the Edinburgh church, and was told by a judge that what she had done was "unforgivable".

Sheriff Celia Sanderson told the 56-year-old that her offence "almost always attracted a custodial sentence," but was spared prison.

Reid, a first offender, had been described by a social worker as at a new level of low risk of reoffending, and was ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service, a sentence criticised by one MSP last night.

Fiscal depute Trevor Smith told Edinburgh Sheriff Court it had become apparent there was a shortfall in the accounts at the city's Slateford Longstone Parish Church where Reid was the treasurer.

He said: "The accused was requested to attend a meeting with the board of the church which she failed to attend and the board received an e-mail from Reid stating she wished to resign from her post."

The court heard an investigation was carried out and when Reid was spoken to by police, she admitted paying a number of cheques into her own account over a period of three years.

Reid, of Redhall Gardens, Edinburgh, admitted embezzling 34,100 from the Church of Scotland parish in Kingsknowe Road North, between 1 June, 2006 and 31 July last year.

Defence agent Dianne Moore said: "This is an extremely serious matter. My client is under no illusions but it is such an unusual situation."

Mrs Moore told the court Reid had always thought of others and had been gainfully employed by the Red Cross for a number of years as well as working for the charity as a volunteer.

She said: "Her parents became sick and she had to care for them, she had building work done and she owed them 19,000 and in desperation and stupidity she took the money."

The solicitor said she had paid back 8,100 and had put her house on the market and was desperate to sell it, adding that there was an inhibition on the property so when it sold, the church would get its money back.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Sanderson told Reid: "Breaches of trust such as this are always serious but you were treasurer of your local church and embezzling such a large sum of money like this almost always attracts a custodial sentence.

"But the social worker has created a new level of low risk of re- offending for you. What you have done is unforgivable but it is not for me to forgive you."

She warned Reid if the community service was not carried out, she would go to jail.

Bill Aitken, the Tory justice spokesman, said: "Embezzlement involves a breach of trust and when that offence impacts on charities or churches, it becomes a much more serious matter.

"I would have thought custody was appropriate where the embezzlement was over a period of time and involved a substantial amount of money."