Housing Estate Book Keeper Nicked £239K

A book keeper, who swindled a landmark housing estate out of £239,000, has been jailed after claiming the money was spent largely on day-to-day expenses.

Carol Scott, 67, tried to cover her tracks and even blamed fellow-employees while overseeing the finances on Islington's De Beauvoir Town estate.

Scott, who lives with her ill mother in Spellbrook Walk, Islington pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position between August 1, 2007 and June 11, last year.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard she was employed by Englefield Estate Trust Corporation - the latest company to manage the estate during her thirty-nine years of employment.

She was sentenced to two years and ten months imprisonment after the sentencing Judge Raj Shetty gave her forty minutes to make care arrangements.    

"I hope your mother's care has not been cynically put in front of me for the purposes of mitigation," he told the first-time offender.

No money has been recovered and Scott claims it all went on day-to-day living expenses, plus the odd gift for family members.

Prosecutor Miss Rebecca Lee told the court: "She had considerable responsibilities, including the handling of money and cheques for rent.

"She dealt with the banking, receipts, all the finances of the estate."

Englefield's finance director Chris Ferguson noticed a balance shortfall nearing £100,000 in 2014.

"He spoke to Miss Scott about that and she gave an explanation that she was on holiday at that time."

There was a larger shortfall by 2015 and Scott was questioned again.

"She made admissions that she had been taking money over a period of years and falsifying records to cover up the sums she was taking.

"She estimated she had taken less than one hundred thousand pounds."

The police were alerted and they quizzed the defendant. "She made admissions that she had been taking money for a number of years.

"She said she spent money on day-to-day living and on family members.

"She said that she intended to pay it back, but it escalated and she lost control of the situation.

"There is nothing to indicate a lavish lifestyle and her bank records show she just withdrew money from her account."

Scott's lawyer Miss Marina Williamson said: "She is incredibly remorseful, held her hands up and did not intend to deceive her employers.

"It was a mistake that became a habit that became an addiction.

"She said she was almost relieved she got caught, which would assist her in not taking any more cash.

"She knew the family she worked for, for a number of years so she did feel some guilt.

"She is the sole carer of her mother, aged eighty-seven, who has dementia and kidney and heart disease and is taking eleven different medications.

"She has not explained to her family she is involved in these proceedings. They are not aware how long she will be away."

Judge Shetty announced: "I am a little dismayed. She should not have come here thinking: 'I've got a dependent mother, everything is going to be okay.'

"It is a huge sum of money that has been defrauded over a long period of time.

"This was over an eight-year period and you are paid a fairly healthy salary of just under thirty-eight thousand pounds," he told Scott.

"You blamed other employees while you were on holiday and you knew someone was on the verge of discovering the irregularities, but you carried on.

"There has been no satisfactory explanation as to what the money has been spent on. The maths simple do not add up.

"I accept you are the carer for your eighty-seven year-old mother. The impact of a custodial sentence on you in relation to her will be hard."