Trusted accounts worker stole £12,000 from employer

Sian Angharad Davies, 32, had been working at Central Windows (Wales) Ltd in Abermule as an accounts administrator between June 19 and December 15 last year.

She appeared at Welshpool Magistrates Court yesterday where she admitted a charge of fraud by abuse of position, after she took £12,106.46 from the company's bank account.

Mrs Helen Tench, prosecuting, described Davies's actions as an "abuse of trust".

She said that the payments were made through unauthorised BACS salary payments and additional payments, and also through cheques.

"Miss Jane Francis, a director of the company, said Miss Davies was employed in the accounts department and as part of her employment had access to business systems and was responsible for paying employees and contractors," Mrs Tench said.

"When she was looking through the accounts at the end of the year she noticed a number of payments to SA Davies and witnessed the defendant say 'it's me, of course'.

"She accepted this, but then went on to notice 21 unauthorised payments initially and then 10 cheques as well.

"Some were written out to contractors or classed as void in the system.

"In a disciplinary hearing Miss Davies admitted taking the money. She was reported to the police and she was then interviewed and charged."

Mrs Tench asked for compensation in the sum of £13,700 to take into account the cost of the consultants and accountants who had been called in by Central Windows (Wales) Ltd in order to rectify the accounts after the fraud was discovered.

Magistrates decided that it was beyond their sentencing powers to deal with the case because of the amount which had been taken

Davies, from Glan Cerniog, Carno, Caersws, was committed to Mold Crown Court for sentencing on September 3.

Magistrates asked for the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report for the judge who will pass sentence.

They granted Davies unconditional bail until the next hearing.