Walsall accountant facing jail over £195,000 fraud

An accountant is facing jail after admitting a £195,000 fraud at the Aldridge firm she worked for.

Joanne Sheargold pleaded guilty to abusing her position at the bedroom furnishings firm Portico Ltd for almost four years when she appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

The 41-year-old admitted committing fraud between April 23, 2006 and January 15, 2008 by abusing her position as an accountant with Portico by falsely representing payments to herself as legitimate.

Sheargold, from Walstead Road, Delves, Walsall, further pleaded guilty to committing fraud on March 16, 2009 relating to payments to Fresh Space and she admitted committing fraud between November 20, 2008 and February 11, 2010 in relation to payments to NGPO.

Prosecutor Mr Mark Rees said the offences involved a total of around £195,000.

Mr Stephen Cadwaladr asked for an adjournment to allow pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

Judge Martin Walsh adjourned the matter until February 9 and granted her bail but warned: "You have pleaded guilty to serious offences and must understand that custody is a real possibility."