Charity’s £18k Stolen By Magistrate

A MAGISTRATE yesterday admitted stealing £18,300 from a dementia charity. Alison Briggs, 49, wrote herself cheques in her role as treasurer of an Alzheimer’s Society branch.

She used her skills as a self-employed accountant to cover her tracks, a court heard. But she was caught when the books were checked.

Recorder Roger Thomas blasted her “disgraceful” behaviour yesterday — saying that she had “betrayed the trust of the public”.

He added: “You utilised your professional skills not to help the Society but to deceive them. You prepared figures which were not correct.”

But Byron Broadstock, defending, said she was left in “dire financial straits” after her divorce eight years ago — and always meant to repay the cash.

He told Cardiff Crown Court: “This is a tragic case involving a woman of impeccable character.”

Briggs, of Abergavenny, South Wales, was given a nine-month jail sentence suspended for a year and a 12-month supervision order.

She must also do 200 hours’ community work.