A MOTHER-of-two stole thousands of pounds from transport giant Stagecoach while working at one of the company’s north-east depots.
Joan Watson dipped into the daily takings while cashing-up at the end of her shift.
She pocketed just over £6,500 in a 10-week period before she was finally caught red-handed by her employers.
Yesterday, the 38-year-old appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court and admitted embezzling from the bus firm between October 3 and December 16, 2013, while working as an administrator.
She was spared a prison sentence, but was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work as part of a community service order. She was also told to pay compensation to Stagecoach.
Fiscal Ruairidh McAlister said Watson’s role at the company’s Balmoor industrial estate premises in Peterhead involved cashing-up the days’ takings and arranging for them to be collected by security firm G4S.
On December 9, a colleague of Watson’s received a call from G4S, saying that the money from the Peterhead office was £665 short.
“As a result of this discrepancy, further inquiries were carried out to look closely at money that had been moved from the premises in the last few months,” said Mr McAlister.
“They found that between October and December, a total of £6,550 was missing.
“An investigation showed that the dates that the money was unaccounted for corresponded with the days that Ms Watson was working.”
Watson was caught in the act on the depot’s CCTV system, the court heard.
“Footage showed Ms Watson putting cash into the safe,” said Mr McAlister.
“As she did this, she used her body to conceal what she was doing, although she is seen putting something into her pocket.”
When confronted with the film by her bosses, Watson initially denied any wrongdoing, but later accepted she had taken the money.
She was suspended from her job and a full police investigation was launched.
She eventually admitted to officers that she had taken £6,550 in total.
Her agent, solicitor John Adam, said a written analysis of his client suggested she did not fully understand the extent of her actions and was not aware of what the consequences would be.
The court heard she had a son who was battling a long-standing drug habit and she felt obliged to help him.
“At the time, she had recently separated from her long-term partner and was coming to terms with being on her own,” Mr Adam said.
“There is no doubt this offence is serious enough to warrant a custodial sentence and she is well aware of that.”
Sheriff Alison Stirling said she was persuaded not to send Watson to jail. As well as ordering her to carry out community work, she told her to pay back £1,000 to Stagecoach.
“I accept that this is not the full amount,” she said. “But I’m sure your former employer will pursue the outstanding balance by other means.”
The court heard that Watson, of 95 Catto Drive, Peterhead, had since found work at a local fish processor but no longer handled money as part of her duties.
Stagecoach declined to comment last night.
