Boots embezzler pays a high price

A FORMER shop assistant at Boots chemist in Shetland admitted embezzling almost £4,000 over a nine month period when she appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

The court heard that 30 year old Jacqueline Riise, of Lonabrak, Gunnista Road, Bressay, had pilfered small amounts of cash instead of putting it in the till.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said she was “shocked and stunned” when she realised the amount she had taken amounted to £3,748.83.

The money was taken between 3 September 2008 and 18 June 2009 when Riise’s family were experiencing financial difficulties, and she had built up debts which she had kept secret.

Since then she had signed an agreement to pay back more than £5,000 to a loan company in exchange for them settling the debt with Boots, though Mr Allan said she had done so without seeking legal advice and on the false understanding that there would be no criminal proceedings.

Sheriff Graeme Napier deferred sentence for one year for Riise to be of good behaviour and to hear how the repayments were going.