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| Cashier's £88,000 theft from OAPs | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A building society cashier has been jailed for 15 months at Swansea Crown Court after stealing almost £90,000 from three elderly customers. | |
| Eleanor Walters, 65, stole from three customers' accounts at the Principality in Swansea city centre over 10 years. | |
| The thefts only came to light a few months ago when a 92-year-old woman tried to withdraw money and was told there were not enough funds. | |
| The judge told Walters he could not overlook a "sustained breach of trust". | The judge told Walters he could not overlook a "sustained breach of trust". |
| The court heard Walters worked at the Principality on the Kingsway in the city until 2002. | The court heard Walters worked at the Principality on the Kingsway in the city until 2002. |
| While she was there she targeted three elderly customers befriending them, earning their trust and taking control of their accounts. She then stole more than £88,000 out of their accounts over 10 years. | While she was there she targeted three elderly customers befriending them, earning their trust and taking control of their accounts. She then stole more than £88,000 out of their accounts over 10 years. |
| Passbooks | Passbooks |
| The theft only came to light last May when 92-year old Elizabeth Lewis, who believed she had £11,500 in savings, tried to take money out of her account and was told there were insufficient funds. | The theft only came to light last May when 92-year old Elizabeth Lewis, who believed she had £11,500 in savings, tried to take money out of her account and was told there were insufficient funds. |
| Prosecution barrister John Hipkin said the exact mechanisms of how Walter's stole the money was known only by the defendant. | Prosecution barrister John Hipkin said the exact mechanisms of how Walter's stole the money was known only by the defendant. |
| After Mrs Lewis realised something was wrong, auditors found discrepancies between the apparent balance of passbooks and the actual amount of money in the accounts. | After Mrs Lewis realised something was wrong, auditors found discrepancies between the apparent balance of passbooks and the actual amount of money in the accounts. |
| The safe keeping of our customers' accounts remains our number one priority Principality Building Society | |
| Police searched Walters' home in Morriston, Swansea and found a typewriter, paperwork from the building society and a number of customers' passbooks. | |
| The investigation found Walter's typewriter had been used to put falsify entries in the passbooks and the writing also matched her handwriting. | The investigation found Walter's typewriter had been used to put falsify entries in the passbooks and the writing also matched her handwriting. |
| The addresses on the account had also been changed - and the new address was Walter's sisters. | The addresses on the account had also been changed - and the new address was Walter's sisters. |
| 'Genuine shame' | 'Genuine shame' |
| She also stole thousands of pounds from two other customers but repaid the money before they realised. | She also stole thousands of pounds from two other customers but repaid the money before they realised. |
| A statement from Mrs Lewis' daughter, Helen Griffiths, was read out in court. | A statement from Mrs Lewis' daughter, Helen Griffiths, was read out in court. |
| In it she described how the theft had affected her elderly mother's health that there had been a deterioration in her well-being and that physically it had worn her down. | In it she described how the theft had affected her elderly mother's health that there had been a deterioration in her well-being and that physically it had worn her down. |
| The two other victims did not actually realise money had been stolen from their accounts until after Walters had already paid it back, but still a big shock for them when they found ou . | The two other victims did not actually realise money had been stolen from their accounts until after Walters had already paid it back, but still a big shock for them when they found ou . |
| Sentencing, Judge Michael Burr said it was clear Walters had set out over 10 years or more to steal money from her employers and people who invested money with them. | Sentencing, Judge Michael Burr said it was clear Walters had set out over 10 years or more to steal money from her employers and people who invested money with them. |
| Some of the £88,000 has now been repaid and the remaining money would be paid from the equity in Walters' home. | Some of the £88,000 has now been repaid and the remaining money would be paid from the equity in Walters' home. |
| He told Walters she had shown genuine shame and remorse but that the effect of the dishonesty and sustained breach of trust, including on a very elderly lady, could not be overlooked. | He told Walters she had shown genuine shame and remorse but that the effect of the dishonesty and sustained breach of trust, including on a very elderly lady, could not be overlooked. |
| Walters sobbed in the dock as she was jailed. | Walters sobbed in the dock as she was jailed. |
| After the case, Principality Building Society said it had taken the matter "extremely seriously" after first reporting it to police nine months ago. | |
| In a statement the society said: "We have robust processes in place to ensure the security of customers' funds and those procedures are kept under regular review. | |
| "The safe keeping of our customers' accounts remains our number one priority". | |
| The statement added an "extensive and rigorous internal investigation" had taken place and the society was committed to making good any loss sustained as a result of the theft. |