Parcel firm treasurer must pay back stolen cash

Sarah Jane Spearman had worked for TNT Express for a decade and was the social club treasurer at the company's depot in Cannock when she took money amounting to around £7,000, Cannock Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Mr John Peel, prosecuting, said the 34-year-old married mother, who had financial problems, kept the money raised by the depot for good causes including Help For Heroes.

She also failed to pay the bill for a Blackpool coach trip for staff and made out cheques to herself.

The court heard that the cash had been stolen over a period of 18 months and it only came to light after colleagues checked the social fund's bank account.

Mr Peel said: "She has stolen £7,000 in total from the social fund during this period of time.

"She kept £400 in cash raised in one day of work for Help for Heroes."

He said TNT also provided money for each employee who wanted to attend the Christmas party, but added: "She inflated this figure by 30 people to obtain a greater payment and kept this money for herself."

The court heard that Spearman, of Dove Hollow, Hednesford, was also responsible for helping to empty a vending machine, but had failed to pay the sums into the bank account.

Rent and tax should have been paid for the vending machine but the firm was informed by the Inland Revenue that those bills were had not been paid by the social fund as there was insufficient money in the account.

As a result the firm had to foot the bill.

Mary-Ann Burke, security manager at the company, told the court that before the crime came to light staff at the depot had 'total trust' in her abilities and people had been left feeling cheated and angry.

She said: "The morale at the depot has been badly affected by this breakdown in trust."

Spearman, who was dismissed following an investigation, admitted theft by employee between October 2012 and February 2014.

The court heard the defendant said she had not planned to steal the cash but things had 'spiralled out of control very quickly' and she thought she would be able to pay the money back.

Spearman said she had struggled financially and had spent the money on every day living costs.

Mr Paul Jenkins, mitigating, said Spearman was of previous good character and had been regarded as trustworthy.

He said she had made full admissions and there was a lack of sophistication in what she did.

Taking about the breach of trust, chair of the bench of magistrates Keith McQuillen said: "We view this very, very seriously.

"We believe it does cross the custody threshold. We are going to suspend it."

Spearman was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended by 12 months, with a 12-month supervision requirement.

She was also ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and pay £7,000 in compensation to the firm, alongside £85 costs and £80 victim surcharge.