Sauchie post office worker stole GBP3000 worth of scratchcards

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.alloaadvertiser.com/news/20 ... atchcards/

A POST OFFICE worker, who stole £3000 worth of lottery tickets from her workplace, has appeared in court for sentencing.

Grandmother Louise McAviney, 59, of Main Street, Sauchie, helped herself to the cards over a period of more than six months.

At Alloa Sheriff Court, she admitted that between December 1, 2020, and June 12, last year, at Sauchie Post Office, she stole a quantity of scratch cards.

The court heard that McAviney was a first offender.

Defence solicitor Robert Smith said the Covid lockdowns had been a difficult period for his client as she could not meet up with her family and felt "isolated".

He said his client could afford to pay back the sum at £10 per week but the sheriff said that was not feasible as it would take decades to reach the total.

He pointed out that it was open to the employer to bring separate proceedings to recover their losses.

Sheriff Neil Bowie told McAviney: "This was a significant breach of trust towards your former employer. You lost your job and you lost your reputation for honesty."

He imposed a community payback order with 200 hours of unpaid work.