A SAUCHIE woman who embezzled more than £3000 of public money has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Former Scottish Water employee Helen McGregor used a company credit card to buy herself items from Amazon and from supermarkets.
However, her activities were uncovered by her bosses when during an internal audit she was unable to explain the purchases.
She was later charged with embezzling in excess of £8,000 but following discussions with the Crown, she pleaded guilty to an amended charge.
And after the sum of £3,065.71 was agreed, McGregor, of Woodlea Park, appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday for sentencing.
She was then handed a Community Payback Order and told to repay the sum she had taken within the next 28 days.
The offending was said to have taken place over a period of five months, between May and October last year.
Depute fiscal Ruaridh Ferguson told the court: “The accused was employed as a team leader at Scottish Water and as a result of her position was given a company credit card, which she used to purchase items from the internet and in some supermarkets.”
He added: “The offence came to light during an audit, with the accused failing to provide receipts.”
Defence agent Kelly Howe said that McGregor had been experiencing a crisis in her life during the time leading up to the offence.
She said: “She had a number of issues which had an impact on her mental health.
“And it was at one particular low point she started a course of buying things over the internet in what she describes as retail therapy to try and escape the realities in her life.
“She finds it difficult to come to terms with the fact she has committed this offence and says it is out of character for her.
“For what it’s worth, she is very anxious to have the money paid back as quickly as possible. She has an agreement to borrow the money from her uncle to then payback the money immediately.
“It’s not lost on her that this was a serious offence and it’s not lost on her that she was in a position of trust at the time.”
Sheriff David Mackie then told McGregor: “I’m sorry to see you in court with this because you have otherwise an unblemished record.
“Taking account of the way you have faced up to this as early as you did, there is no prospect of a custodial sentence.”
The sheriff then ordered that McGregor repay the sum of money and that she carry out 240 hours of unpaid work, reduced from the maximum of 300 due to her early plea.