A chef who cooked the books at a social enterprise company has admitted embezzling more than £12,000 to fund a gambling problem.
Moira Coughlin, 37, spent months covering up the missing cash which she had taken from the charitable Tayberry Enterprise organisation.
On Monday at Dundee Sheriff Court, Coughlin admitted embezzling £12,100 while she was working for Tayberry Enterprise between December 1, 2017 and May 11, 2018.
The social enterprise, now closed, helped local people with long-term conditions and learning disabilities.
Staff noticed cash was not being banked
Fiscal depute Emily Hood told the court: “The accused was working there and in October 2017 she was given responsibility for the payroll and for transferring payments to the bank.
“In January 2018 a witness noticed that money was not being paid into the bank account but thought nothing of it at that time.
“In February 2018 they noticed the money had still not been transferred and the accused was asked to do so.
“The accused explained that due to a junior member of staff having a breakdown she had not been able to do what she had been asked to with the money.
“This continued into March and there was still not transfer.
“They spoke to the accused several times and she promised she would bank it but she did not.”
Missing sum increases
Miss Hood continued: “The cash increased to around £12,000.
“She said the money was still in the main safe and she would bank it as soon as she could.
“This continued up until May 2018.
“The accused sent a message to a staff member explaining that she had a severe gambling problem and money had been taken from the cafe by her.
“She stated it had been her intention to pay the money back but she had been unable to do so and there was no money to be provided from her.”
Miss Hood told the court the organisation called in the police and Coughlin, of Balmoral Gardens, Dundee, was arrested and interviewed but did not make any further comment to officers.
Sentence deferred
Solicitor Paul Parker-Smith, defending, said: “She is a chef by trade.
“She recently started work and is also due to start a Dundee College course on patisserie.
“It has taken some time for this matter to materialise and this is the first time she has actually appeared in court.
“She is a single mother of two.
“She understands that this is a serious matter and will be viewed as such by this court.”
Sheriff Lorna Drummond deferred sentence for reports and said: “It is a serious matter, given it involves embezzlement of £12,100.”
