A former Scout leader in Moray has been ordered to start saving money to repay the £1,433 she embezzled from the group.
Louise Gordon, from Aberlour, took membership fees from children to pay off debts between January 2017 and February 2019, having lost her job.
At Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday, the 50-year-old was given six months to repay the cash, having pleaded guilty at a previous hearing.
Gordon, who was not present in court, was appointed a leader of the Beavers in Aberlour in 2016, while also accepting financial responsibilities for the group.
Fiscal 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.
Gordon offered to repay the money to the group but the gesture was not accepted by members, who contacted the police.
Mrs Smith said there was no record of any of the money being repaid to date.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov said: “My primary concerns is that the Scouts Association does not lose out.
“I will allow six months to allow Mrs Gordon to save money for restitution.”
Gordon, of Linn Brae in Aberlour, had her sentence deferred to March 25 next year.
