Shame of an embezzler

A trusted employee who babysat for a managing director and was bridesmaid to a colleague stole more than £126,000 from three firms where she looked after the books.

Directors of the Walsall-based companies, who had put their trust in Lorraine Howdle, say at least 20 jobs were put at risk by her deceit.

Howdle pleaded guilty to 18 offences of false accounting and two offences of dishonestly retaining wrongful credit while working as a credit controller between October 2003 and September 2006.

The charges relate to cheque book and banking discrepancies for Atlas Ball & Bearing Company Limited, Mike Davies (Bearings) Limited and Machinery Engineering Limited, in Leamore Lane, Beechdale.

Judge George Onions told Howdle: "All options remain open. I think you must prepare yourself for a prison sentence."

Mark Phillips, prosecuting, told the hearing the case involved even higher sums, as further offences were due to be taken into consideration.

He said the affected companies indicated they would be taking legal action to recoup the missing cash from the defendant.

And he said an application would be made under the Proceeds of Crime Act to confiscate her assets. Lucy Allan, defending, told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "She is under no illusion that there is only one outcome in this case."

She said Howdle, aged 42, of Rose Drive, Clayhanger, Brownhills, had a £50,000 share in a house. When Miss Allan said her client was due to go on an arranged family holiday to the Algarve, in Portugal, this month, there were gasps of disbelief from the public gallery where representatives of the firms were sitting.

Judge Onions adjourned sentencing until next month to allow reports about the single woman to be compiled.

He gave her conditional bail and ordered that character references be submitted before the next hearing and that an "arms length" valuation of her house be carried out. It is claimed that Howdle, also known as Gail, put jobs at risk due to the expense incurred by the firms in putting the accounts in order.

* More reports in Friday's Express & Star.