A north-east woman has admitted forging the signature of a client to steal more than £2,000 from her employers.
Julie-Ann Lawton appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday where she pleaded guilty to defrauding Provident Management Services by issuing loans worth £2,500 in the name of an unsuspecting customer.
The 38-eight-year-old had been employed by the firm to visit the homes of clients and offer loan services to them but was sacked when an investigation was launched into financial irregularities.
The woman whose signature she forged had no idea that the money had been taken out in her name and confirmed the signature used to apply for the loans were not hers.
Yesterday, fiscal depute Ruaridh McAllister said he was unaware how much money Lawton, of Henderson Park in Peterhead, has since paid back.
“Following the investigation the company reported the matter to the police,” he added.
“Miss Lawton was sacked by the company in question.”
Her solicitor, Sam Milligan, added: “At that time my client was very much embroiled in an abusive relationship.
“There were other behavioural aspects in that matter which caused stress and strain.”
Mr Milligan also suggested that “significant sums” of cash had been repaid by Lawton and that a deferral of about two months would allow the court to confirm the financial situation of his client.
Lawton will now appear for sentencing on July 4.
