'Greedy' accountant stole £35k from employer while colleagues lost their jobs
dailyrecord.co.ukAn accountant who stole more than £35,000 from her employer gifted large cash sums to her family before her ruse was uncovered.
Sarah Cunningham's actions ‘left a trail of destruction’ which resulted in at least five other members of staff being made redundant due the financial loss.The 41-year-old had been working for Velo Systems for less than a month when she first transferred money from the business into an account she had set up.
Just five minutes after being questioned about the missing money by a colleague, Cunningham said her mum had been 'rushed into hospital after suffering a stroke' and she had to leave work.Despite a judge ruling that her actions had been driven, in part, by ‘greed, the mum was spared a jail sentence at Manchester Crown Court due to currently undergoing treatment for cervical cancer.
Business owner, Aria Taheri, told the court he stumped up £50,000 of his own money to try to save the company - but was ultimately forced to sell it at a loss.The court heard that Cunningham had access to the company's banking system, but could not make payments without prior approval in her role.
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