Shopaholic clerk stole £128,000 from Bourne firm
A SHOPAHOLIC accounts clerk who "spent, spent, spent" after stealing £128,000 from her trusting bosses was behind bars last night.
Tina Crowson earned just 12,000 a year, but drove a flash BMW convertible, blew 150-a-week on hairstyles and 100 facials, all paid for with company funds.
She had her own therapist, a masseur and a personal fitness trainer. Money also went on holidays, designer handbags, cosmetics and expensive perfume.
Managers at the meat wholesalers in Bourne where she worked had no idea the 44-year-old clerk had creamed off 128,000.
But they were also in the dark about the jail sentence the fraudster had just served for stealing 74,000 from her previous employers.
Lincoln Crown Court heard Crowson, who claimed to be a devout Christian, went on spending spree after the break-up of her marriage.
Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said she had submitted a false CV to get the job back in 2005 and appeared to be a model employee.
But that changed when her boss Linda Bennett spotted a pile of 20 notes in the office on top of Crowson's shopping bag.
She then found a collection of sales invoices for which there was no record and confronted Crowson. When asked where the money was for the invoices she said "I've got it".
Bosses at The Peterborough Game Company brought in forensic accounts who discovered 128,000 had been stolen in 18 months.
Crowson had been pocketing cash and concealing invoices. The thefts cost two people's jobs and left the firm's future in jeopardy.
Mr Scott said: "She was arrested and her home address was searched. Outside was a BMW convertible which she said she purchased for cash."
When police finally caught up with her they found she had three computers at her home - all paid for by the thefts.
Crowson, 44, formerly of Livermore Green, Werrington, Peterborough, but now of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to theft of 128,060 from the company between February 28, 2007 and August 1, 2008.
She also admitted obtaining her employment by deception as a result of submitting a false CV.
Chris Milligan, mitigating, described Crowson as a shopaholic. He said: "These latest offences were committed at a time when Tina Crowson was extremely depressed. She was going through the break-up of her marriage.
"Whilst depressed she sought some sanctuary in shopping. It cheered her up but in a very short time she felt depressed again. This was like an addiction."
Mr Milliagan added: "She was not mentally ill. She recognises she has a problem and is genuinely sorry for the trouble she has caused."
Jailing Crowson for two-and-a half years Judge Ebrahim Mooncey told her "You enjoyed the high life.You say you thought this would help you get over your depression.
"I'm very sceptical about that. I take the view that you were just greedy."
After the case the company owner Richard Bennett, said "Crowson is just a conwoman. She made out she was a devout Christian but her CV was totally bogus. She never let on that she had been in prison before.
"The sentence is a joke. She almost destroyed the company. Two people lost their jobs because of her. Those who were left have worked unbelievably hard to get us back into profit."
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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