Glasgow treasurer jailed after embezzling charity funds
Karen McCormack, 49, took money from Bookbug, run by the South Glasgow Childcare Partnership Forum, on 65 different occasions
The treasurer of a Glasgow children’s book charity has been jailed for embezzling more than £62,000 to fund her gambling.
Karen McCormack, 49, took money from Bookbug, run by the South Glasgow Childcare Partnership Forum, on 65 different occasions during a 14-month period.
McCormack was in charge of the account, but was caught when another volunteer paid a cheque into the account and noticed discrepancies.
She confronted McCormack who confessed “I took the money”.
At the time the charity were unsure if they would be able to continue past March this year, but have since secured funding.
McCormack from Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire pled guilty to embezzling £62,250, a crime branded “shameful” by the sheriff, between April 2016 and June 2017.
Sheriff Johanna Johnston jailed McCormack for 12 months.
She said: “It’s a very unfortunate crime, you know that yourself because you were taking from a charity that’s doing good work.”
The court heard McCormack was employed by Glasgow City Council inspecting nurseries and volunteered with the SGCPF as treasurer of Bookbug.
The charity provides free books to children to encourage families to read together.
Procurator fiscal depute Deborah Carroll said: “The embezzlement had a significant impact on the finances of the charity.
“At the time of the reporting it was unclear whether the charity had the finances to continue.
“They had enough money to continue until March.
“They have been able to secure funding, so it can continue.”
On June 23 last year, another Bookbug volunteer paid a cheque into the bank and requested a statement.
She noticed a number of discrepancies with large number of payments having been withdrawn by the accused for events which had not happened.
Miss Carroll said she confronted McCormack and said “Please don’t tell me this is what I think it is.”
McCormack confessed that “I took the money” and said “I’m so sorry”.
She explained she was using it for online gambling and didn’t know how to tell her.
The charity account showed 65 transactions when money had been transferred to McCormack’s account and used for gambling.
It was heard there has been no repayment yet.
Defence lawyer Neil Kilcoyne said McCormack had taken money for gambling.
He said: “She had taken further sums in the hope she would win so that she could repay.
“But, obviously that didn’t occur.”
The court heard she is “disgusted” by her actions.