A former Beavers leader who embezzled more than £1,400 from the group more than three years ago has only managed to pay back £200.
Louise William, known as Gordon, took membership fees from children at Aberlour Scout Group to pay off debts after losing her job.
The 51-year-old was appointed volunteer leader of the Beavers in 2016 and oversaw the finances.
She later embezzled £1,433 between January 2017 and February 2019.
Left just £90 in account
At that hearing, in September 2020, fiscal depute Karen Smith said: “In March 2019, the district Scouts commissioner made contact with Mrs Gordon to request the overdue yearly memberships be sent.
“When he didn’t receive it he ordered that the records of the group be produced immediately, which showed £90 in the account when there should have been a lot more.”
Further investigations established that membership incomes from families, which should have totalled £3,122, were declared at just £1,689.
At a sentencing diet this week, the court heard Gordon had saved only £200 in the near two years since she offered to pay the money back.
‘She has saved as much as she can’
Her defence agent Stephen Carty said: “She is in receipt of benefits and she advises me she has saved as much as she can.”
Gordon, of Linn Brae in Aberlour, said she had £200 “set aside in an account” and ready to give back to the Scouts.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood told her the time was up for saving and ordered she hand over the £200 within the week and repay the remaining £1,233 at a rate of £20 per month going forward.
“It’s one thing having it set aside in an account,” he added. “But it’s another to actually give it back to the Scouts by was of restitution.”
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