Oswestry mum in £4,500 theft from employers to pay back just £500

Victoria Edwards duplicated invoices on a total of 12 occasions to the amount of £4,651.91 while working in the accounts department at Tudor Griffiths Builders Merchants at Maesbury Road, Oswestry.

The 28-year-old had issued refunds for the full amount listed on invoices but had deliberately credited the money to her own account instead of back to the original customer, said Mr Mike Phillips, prosecuting at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court.

The fraud came to light after checks were carried out at the firm, and some discrepancies were noticed in the paperwork relating to the invoices, he added.

Edwards, of Erw Wen, Morda, in Oswestry, admitted one charge of fraud by false representation.

Ms Justine McVitie, for Edwards, said her client's problems had started when her partner had left the family home.

She said Edwards was struggling to make ends meet, and had descended into a vicious cycle of debt to various pay-day loans companies, she said.

In addition, Edwards was said to be "in a depressed state", and to have considerable self-esteem issues.

According to Mrs McVitie, Edwards was struggling with a back problem which worsened her situation, and since losing her job with the company she had been unable to find work, resulting in her needing to claim benefits.

Sentencing, district judge TJ Rose said Edwards had "self-evident difficulties relating to childcare, and had issues with her health".

He said he also took into account the fact that Edwards has no previous convictions on her record, and also of her early guilty plea.

He warned her that she could still be pursued for the remaining amount by other civil recovery means, but that he could only order her to repay a maximum of £500 - the maximum amount allowable by the court.

Edwards was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, which will be supervised by the probation service.