A former manager of the Argyll and Bute Women’s Aid branch has been jailed after being found guilty of embezzling almost £40,000 from the charity.
Jay Reid, 67, was a manager at the local Women’s Aid in Dunoon, Scotland, when she stole the money over a five-year period between December 2016 and January 2021.
Reid was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 months in prison for embezzlement at Greenock Sheriff Court after being found guilty by a jury.
Offending identified after staff failed to receive pension payments
Reid had worked as a manager of the children’s service at the Dunoon office and had control of the branch’s bank account, according to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
Her offending was revealed when other Women’s Aid staff members discovered that payments had not been made to their pensions.
Charity officials then investigated, with Reid’s offending being fully identified following an audit by the Scottish government.
A financial investigator later established that Reid used a Women’s Aid credit card to finance illegitimate purchases totalling £39,727.
Spending included holidays to Tenerife and Amsterdam, furniture from IKEA, a Weight Watchers’ membership as well as vet bills.
Anne Marie Hicks, procurator fiscal for North Strathclyde, said: “Jay Reid committed an egregious betrayal of trust by taking advantage of her position to embezzle money from her employers.
“She showed no regard for the impact her crimes would have on vulnerable women and children who relied on support from Women’s Aid or the effect it would have on those trying to run such an important charity.
“The public will rightly be appalled.”
Argyll and Bute Women’s Aid has been approached for comment.
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