Woman stole cash from Shirebrook charity shop she had been employed to manage

Jodie Walker had been employed to run the Peaceful Trust charity shop in Shirebrook in 2018 but trustees quickly saw expected profits fall, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday, September 8.

The charity began to monitor the 36-year-old more closely and were able to establish that she had destroyed till receipts and provided false financial records in a bid to hide her crimes, said Angela Hadfield, prosecuting.

She said that at the time Walker was dismissed from the role, in July 2019, the charity could only establish that £111.88 had been taken, but said the charity estimated the figure could be as high as £2,000.

She said: “It appears that what she was doing was altering receipts to show a smaller amount than had actually been taken. It’s difficult to put a firm figure on the actual amount because we don’t know how long it was going on for.

Walker, who has a previous conviction for theft from her employer dating back to 2010, admitted false accounting when she appeared before the court.

Mitigating, Karl Meakin said: “It’s a very regrettable matter which she is ashamed of. At the time of the offence her long-term partner was addicted to Class A drugs and there was sometimes a need for quick cash to help the family home and there was pressure put on her to supplement the relatively meagre income coming into the home.”

He added that Walker’s partner was now being treated for his addiction and he had been trying to pay some of the stolen money back into the shop.

Walker, of Tithe Barn Court, Newark, was ordered to complete 160 hours of unpaid work, pay the charity £111.88 in compensation, along with £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Passing sentence, District Judge Andrew Davison said: “A second offence of stealing from an employer can lead to prison. You need to leave here in no doubt that a third conviction will lead to prison.”

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