Telford woman stole £23,000 from her employers
A Telford woman stole more than £23,000 while employed in the accountants department of a window company in the town, a court heard.
Lindsay Michelle Oliver, 34, took the cash in just over a year by keeping cash paid by customers.
Oliver pleaded guilty to stealing monies from the Camden Group Ltd between August, 2015 and October, 2016.
A court heard that Oliver had a record for offending - she was in breach of a suspended sentence imposed in May 2015 for offences of fraud.
Judge Jim Tindal adjourned the hearing until January 19 after he was told that Oliver had not informed her family that she was in court facing a prison sentence.
He was told that a family member was terminally ill and said he was giving Oliver the opportunity to put her affairs in order.
Oliver, of Whitchurch Road, Telford, was allowed bail but was warned that a prison sentence was still more than possible.
Shrewsbury Crown Court heard the defendant was given a 16-week suspended sentence in 2015 after admitting dishonestly using her father's bank card and and her mother's bank account without permission over a five-year period.
Miss Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said that two months later Oliver was employed by Camden Group Ltd at Stafford Park and the defendant said that the firm were made aware of her conviction.
She said that the Oliver's job included handling and banking cash payments and processing orders and invoices.
Oliver had concealed the thefts by adjusting invoice dates, but it came to light in October, 2016, when the firm became aware there were no invoices for deliveries that had left their premises.
Miss Ruck said Oliver first said she had only taken around £10,000 but a schedule of the firm's customers show that a total of £23,133 was missing.
Oliver had only stopped when a second person was employed to help with the work.
The court heard she had offered to repay the money and had paid £1,300 and the firm had retained her final month's salary.
Mr Danny Smith, for Oliver, said his client had come with 'her bag packed' for sentence, but there was a background of isolation as her family and sisters were not aware she faced going to prison.
He said she had saved £800 towards repaying the money by setting up an online custom jewellery business.
