A MORAY woman stole £25,000 a young boy had inherited from his grandfather.
Egita Balode plundered the cash over more than a year as she tried to keep her struggling hairdressing business afloat.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard yesterday that the single mother-of-two was under huge stress as the sole breadwinner in her home while she was making no money at her salon.
And the first offender was spared a jail sentence after a sheriff was told the crime had been a product of “sad” and “unfortunate” circumstances.
Between August 19, 2013, and December 31 last year, Balode, 31, slowly embezzled £25,920.75 from the primary school-aged child’s account.
The 31-year-old Latvian, of 59 Beechfield Road, Elgin, moved to Scotland seven years ago.
Her agent, solicitor Brent Lockie, told the court yesterday: “Normally in these types of cases, police are looking for evidence of the accused living a champagne lifestyle.
“But officers went through her bank statements and there were no extravagant transfers.
“The money entrusted to her was spent on living and business expenses.
“She was in a relationship with the child’s father, but that came to an end some time ago.”
Balode was given control of the money after a series of connected deaths.
The child’s grandfather had planned to leave the cash to his own surviving son – the child’s dad – until he also died in 2011.
Balode’s was appointed administrator of the bequeathed funds by the Accountant of Court.
Mr Lockie added: “It was a very stressful time for her. She was a single mother with two children.
“Her hairdressing business, which she was trying hard to make work, wasn’t making any money.
“It wasn’t about extravagant spending, but it was about keeping her family going through a difficult time.
“She was having to pay rent and council tax before she had started receiving housing benefit.
“It was a very upsetting time and she is genuinely remorseful for what she did. She feels she has greatly let herself and the child down.”
Balode has now started another business with her mother which is performing better, the court was told.
Sheriff Ian Anderson said the sum embezzled was a “significant factor” which made her an appropriate candidate for custody.
However, due to her status as a single mother with no previous convictions, he said he would stop short of sending her to jail.
Sheriff Anderson told her: “I don’t think an enforced repayment order is appropriate in this case and would only complicate matters.
“But from your own point of view, there is nothing stopping you paying it back on your own accord.”
Balode was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the next nine months.
