Cashier Embezzeled Funds To Gamble

This story was published more than 11 years ago.

A Nationwide Building Society cashier embezzled £300,000 from 49 different client accounts in order to fund a gambling addiction, a Glasgow Sheriff Court heard this week.

Elaine Barrett, who was employed for the company for 18 years was put in jail for 15 months for her crimes that occurred from January 2008 and January 2010. She was caught when she tried transferring a £9,229 check from a closed account to a fake account.

Barrett's gambling reportedly started following the death of her father.

Speaking to the court Procurator Fiscal Dispute Ruth Ross-Davie said: "She was able to get away with this because she had set up the transaction when a customer would approach with a view to closing their account and transfer money in to a longer term savings account. The customer would then not be inclined to check that account very regularly."