Miss-Delectable
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Scotsman.com News - Scotland - Edinburgh - Charity theft woman escapes prison term
A CHARITY worker who stole more than £13,000 from her deaf and blind clients today escaped a jail sentence.
Kim Florence, of Plewlands Terrace, Morningside, had pleaded guilty to embezzling the cash while working for Deaf Action.
Sheriff Steven branded her actions "despicable" and said she wanted to impose a prison sentence on the 44-year-old.
But her early guilty plea meant the longest jail term available was two months, so the maximum community service punishment of 240 hours was deemed a more severe punishment.
Sheriff Steven criticised the prosecution for their handling of the case, which meant the maximum jail term of 12 months was not available.
Florence, a recognised mental health nurse who had worked for Deaf Action for 21 years, admitted stealing the cash between September 2004 and November last year.
Her job with the Slateford Road-based charity was to provide personal care for clients and to administer their financial affairs.
Florence stole £7100 from Margaret Watt, 68, who was profoundly deaf and suffered from confusion due to her age.
Raymond Robb, 54, who was deaf and had learning difficulties, was also targeted and lost £2500.
Margaret Eaglesham, 75, who was deaf and has learning difficulties, lost £3200.
The procurator fiscal told Edinburgh Sheriff Court today that Florence would withdraw the cash from her clients and place it in a safe at the care accommodation.
The money was left in the accounts without being lodged for a length of time then taken out again by Florence.
Staff at Deaf Action were alerted to the scam when Florence's partner contacted the charity about her "over-spending".
An investigation uncovered the missing funds. The police were contacted and Florence admitted the charges.
Her lawyer told the court that his client "recognised the extreme seriousness of her breach of trust".
He said: "She is the single mother of a ten-year-old daughter. She had begun to suffer financial difficulties and was unable to give her daughter the lifestyle she wanted. She was also taking medication for depression.
"Miss Florence pled guilty at the earliest opportunity and feels genuinely ashamed and remorseful."
Florence had repaid £13,000 of the total sum stolen, with £800 still outstanding. The cash was raised through the sale of her house.
Sheriff Steven said: "This offence involved embezzling funds from people who were disabled, who entrusted their financial affairs to your care. It was despicable and justifies a prison sentence of 12 months.
"But the maximum sentence available to me is two months, of which you would only serve one month in custody. I no longer think that such a short period is appropriate. That is the only reason I am imposing a period of community service. This is nothing to mitigate the gravity of the offence".
Florence wept in the dock as the sentence of community service was handed out along with an order to pay back the remaining £800.
A CHARITY worker who stole more than £13,000 from her deaf and blind clients today escaped a jail sentence.
Kim Florence, of Plewlands Terrace, Morningside, had pleaded guilty to embezzling the cash while working for Deaf Action.
Sheriff Steven branded her actions "despicable" and said she wanted to impose a prison sentence on the 44-year-old.
But her early guilty plea meant the longest jail term available was two months, so the maximum community service punishment of 240 hours was deemed a more severe punishment.
Sheriff Steven criticised the prosecution for their handling of the case, which meant the maximum jail term of 12 months was not available.
Florence, a recognised mental health nurse who had worked for Deaf Action for 21 years, admitted stealing the cash between September 2004 and November last year.
Her job with the Slateford Road-based charity was to provide personal care for clients and to administer their financial affairs.
Florence stole £7100 from Margaret Watt, 68, who was profoundly deaf and suffered from confusion due to her age.
Raymond Robb, 54, who was deaf and had learning difficulties, was also targeted and lost £2500.
Margaret Eaglesham, 75, who was deaf and has learning difficulties, lost £3200.
The procurator fiscal told Edinburgh Sheriff Court today that Florence would withdraw the cash from her clients and place it in a safe at the care accommodation.
The money was left in the accounts without being lodged for a length of time then taken out again by Florence.
Staff at Deaf Action were alerted to the scam when Florence's partner contacted the charity about her "over-spending".
An investigation uncovered the missing funds. The police were contacted and Florence admitted the charges.
Her lawyer told the court that his client "recognised the extreme seriousness of her breach of trust".
He said: "She is the single mother of a ten-year-old daughter. She had begun to suffer financial difficulties and was unable to give her daughter the lifestyle she wanted. She was also taking medication for depression.
"Miss Florence pled guilty at the earliest opportunity and feels genuinely ashamed and remorseful."
Florence had repaid £13,000 of the total sum stolen, with £800 still outstanding. The cash was raised through the sale of her house.
Sheriff Steven said: "This offence involved embezzling funds from people who were disabled, who entrusted their financial affairs to your care. It was despicable and justifies a prison sentence of 12 months.
"But the maximum sentence available to me is two months, of which you would only serve one month in custody. I no longer think that such a short period is appropriate. That is the only reason I am imposing a period of community service. This is nothing to mitigate the gravity of the offence".
Florence wept in the dock as the sentence of community service was handed out along with an order to pay back the remaining £800.