Charity Worker Jailed For Embezzling Almost £20K

A Glasgow charity worker, who embezzled almost £20,000 from funds belonging to adults with learning difficulties in a Lanarkshire town, has been jailed for 15 months.

Katrina McKenna, 50, of Birsay Road, Milton Glasgow, siphoned off funds from Enable Scotland Limited, Airdrie, while employed with the charity. She embezzled £18,546 from the company for almost three years between April 1, 2008 and February 24, 2011, before her scam was discovered.

Today at Airdrie Sheriff Court, blonde haired McKenna was told by a sheriff "there is no alternative but a custodial sentence for an offence of this nature."

Prosecutor Gordon Crawford told the court: "These monies were state benefits paid into the accounts of adults with incapacity difficulties. The accounts were held separately at the Clydesdale Bank. If cash had to be drawn out it required two signatures and one of the signatories was McKenna.

"The cash would be taken from the bank to the Enable office in Airdrie and lodged in the safe and then paid over to the individual when they needed it. There was a simple auditing system within Enable as they trusted each other.

"McKenna was responsible for the accounts of seven adults. She would cash the cheques on their behalf and lodge a lower amount in the accounts. During the period of the embezzlement she did this with 101 cheques. They were all moderate sums, but usually around Christmas time and summer.

"Matters came to light when there was a review of their process. There was a high level of withdrawals from two of McKenna's clients. On February 22, 2011 a meeting of team leaders took place at Enable. McKenna was seen to be visibly shaking. She never returned to work and was unable to be contacted

"Police were informed on February 28, six days later. On October 24, 2012 she was traced, taken to Coatbridge Police office, arrested and charged with embezzlement."

Sheriff Frank Pieri told McKenna, who stood motionless in the dock: "Given the length of time of the embezzlement, the identity of those the money was for and your position of trust, custody is the only alternative.

The sentence was reduced from 18 months because of her early plea.