Embezzler escapes jail term

A FORMER employee of Lerwick Post Office has narrowly escaped a prison sentence after admitting embezzling more than £13,000 between October 2012 and July 2013.

Jacqueline Smith, who now lives in Poole on the south coast of England, was instead put under supervision for 12 months and ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

The 51 year old appeared for sentencing before Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

The court heard how Smith ran into debts while in an “abusive relationship”.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said the offence took place during a time where Smith was in a desperate situation and felt there was nowhere else she could turn.

Since the embezzlement came to light £13,525.80 has been paid back to the Post Office by tapping into Smith’s pension fund.

Sheriff Philip Mann said the “very serious breach of trust” would easily have justified a custodial sentence, but since the money had been paid back he was prepared to deal with the case more leniently.

The supervision order will be transferred to the English authorities.