Failing to balance the books led a Milford Haven woman to steal from her employer and take out fraudulent loans.

Victoria Anne James, of Cherry Tree Close, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to theft by employee when she appeared in the dock at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, August 14.

The court heard that she stole cash belonging to Valley Finance Ltd between December 5 and 23, 2016.

James, 35, also admitted two charges of committing fraud by dishonestly making false representations that she was a potential customer of the firm, between the same dates, to gain a cash loan for herself.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the bench that James started work with the company on November 9, 2016, just weeks before making two false loan applications for £100 in other people’s names.

“The company quickly realised something was amiss and say that the shortfall in money she had not put into the account was £832.

“It’s clearly a serious offence because there’s a breach of trust in theft by an employee.”

Mike Kelleher, defending, said the matter had been hanging over James’ head for 20 months, causing her ‘immense stress’, and her marriage had broken down in the meantime.

“Her books did not balance. She could not explain why and completely panicked. She took out two false loans, the money gained from that she used to make up the shortfall in her books.

“It’s effectively robbing Peter to pay Paul. One loan has been repaid in full.”

Magistrates sentenced James to a community order with a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement and 50 hours of unpaid work.

She was also ordered to pay £170 in costs and a surcharge and £1,032 compensation to the company.