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Clerk stole £200k from Rugeley Town Council | Clerk stole £200k from Rugeley Town Council |
(32 minutes later) | |
A council worker who stole more than £200,000 to fund holidays and equipment for horses has been jailed for four years. | A council worker who stole more than £200,000 to fund holidays and equipment for horses has been jailed for four years. |
Assistant town clerk Rebecca Mason, 42, admitted transferring money from Rugeley Town Council's reserves. | Assistant town clerk Rebecca Mason, 42, admitted transferring money from Rugeley Town Council's reserves. |
Between February 2017 and December 2018, she took £218,00 in 242 separate payments | Between February 2017 and December 2018, she took £218,00 in 242 separate payments |
Stafford Crown Court heard the money was intended for repairs to a community theatre and two children's play areas. | Stafford Crown Court heard the money was intended for repairs to a community theatre and two children's play areas. |
The sentencing heard Mason, of School Walk, Burntwood, Staffordshire, was trusted with the town council's finances. | The sentencing heard Mason, of School Walk, Burntwood, Staffordshire, was trusted with the town council's finances. |
Staffordshire Police said Mason had admitted disguising the payments made to her account as an excessive gas and electric bill. | Staffordshire Police said Mason had admitted disguising the payments made to her account as an excessive gas and electric bill. |
'Frittered away' | |
The court was told she spent £18,000 on a holiday, £133,000 on household items and £69,000 on equipment for three horses. | The court was told she spent £18,000 on a holiday, £133,000 on household items and £69,000 on equipment for three horses. |
It was discovered after Mason was suspended over a different matter, it was told. | It was discovered after Mason was suspended over a different matter, it was told. |
A Proceeds of Crime hearing to establish how much should be repaid has been scheduled for 18 September. | |
However, police said Mason had "frittered away" most of the stolen cash, and checks had found she had "little or no means". | |
In a witness impact statement, council clerk Hilary Goodreid said work to investigate the crime had cost the authority nearly £11,000 . | In a witness impact statement, council clerk Hilary Goodreid said work to investigate the crime had cost the authority nearly £11,000 . |
She said many residents had taken to social media to express their distrust in the council, which she described as "disheartening". | She said many residents had taken to social media to express their distrust in the council, which she described as "disheartening". |
The council said Mason was dismissed on 25 February. | The council said Mason was dismissed on 25 February. |
Det Con Nick Gorman said: "This was a significant amount of money that was stolen from the public purse by Rebecca Mason who dishonestly abused her position for her own financial gain in this case. | Det Con Nick Gorman said: "This was a significant amount of money that was stolen from the public purse by Rebecca Mason who dishonestly abused her position for her own financial gain in this case. |
"Although she pleaded guilty at the first opportunity she knows this was a betrayal of trust that continued for some time." | "Although she pleaded guilty at the first opportunity she knows this was a betrayal of trust that continued for some time." |
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |