Winter Drapes

PO cashier stole Pounds 34,000

0 Comments | Leicester Mercury, Jul 20, 2010 | by SUZY GIBSON

A post office cashier who stole more than Pounds 34,000 has escaped an immediate jail sentence.

Susan Elizabeth Holdcroft regularly helped herself to sums at Bellevue Post Office, in Moore Road, in Barwell, during the course of a year.

A court heard she turned to dishonesty after she became overwhelmed by debt following the loss of her husband’s job at a bank, due to ill health.

The 56-year-old, of Wellington Close, in Burbage, admitted theft of the cash sums, all deposited on behalf of a vending machine company.

She was given a 10-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, with supervision.

Meena Evans, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court that an employee of the company who was responsible for collecting money from gaming machines, routinely made deposits at the post office.

She said: “He usually dealt with the defendant and would be given a paying-in in slip.

“However, the company began to notice discrepancies and contacted the post office.”

When questioned by a post office area manager last August she made full admissions, accepting taking a total of Pounds 34,135. Ms Evans said: “She said she was in financial difficulties and when she first took the money she intended paying it back, but things got on top of her.”

Jonathan Longman, in mitigation, said she had no previous convictions and had made no attempt to lie or cover up what she had done.

He said: “Her remorse, regret and shame are genuine.”

She said that her husband took time off work due to illness and was eventually forced to resign, leaving them in financial difficulty.

There was no suggestion in court that he knew what his wife was doing.

Mr Longman said: “Things went from bad to worse with debts and rent arrears mounting up.

“She felt her husband was under enough stress and took out loans to help.”

She was unable to make the repayments and the debt increased.

Mr Longman said: “She knows her actions were entirely unacceptable, stupid and ill-thought-out.

“It was a desperate attempt to resuscitate their financial problems.

“They haven’t been living an expensive or extravagant lifestyle.

“It all went on arrears and loan payments.”

Sentencing, Judge Sylvia De Bertodano also ordered Holdcroft to attend a Just Women course run by the probation service.

She told Holdcroft, who wept in the dock: “Over a period of a year you used your position to steal a large sum.

“You did it out of desperation because you were, as many people are, very heavily in debt.

“Although many people are in that situation very few deal with it in this way.

“I accept it wasn’t spent on luxuries but was used to deal with a mounting debt crisis.

“You’ve lost your job and are unlikely to get another in a position of trust.”