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A woman who embezzled nearly £20,000 from a community shop has been given six months to repay the stolen cash.

 

Elaine Newton took almost £11,524 while the boss of the Uig Shop in the west coast of Lewis.

 

The money went missing over a six month period between February and August last year.

 

In 2013, she went away with £8,000 from the Uig Development Trust, the parent body which established and runs the store.

 

The 63-year-old of 5 Reef, Uig, Lewis, appeared at Stornoway Sheriff Court on Monday.

 

Sheriff James Scott deferred sentence for six months to give her an opportunity to make full repayment.

 

He told her a decision whether she would go to jail or receive a payback order would be made in May next year.

 

At that stage, it would be considered if a community payback order - which usually includes unpaid community service work - would be an appropriate alternative to prison.

 

Newton previously pleaded guilty to taking nearly £11,524 while the boss of the Uig Community Shop in the west coast of Lewis. The money went missing over a six month period between February and August last year.

 

In 2013, she went away with £8,000 from the Uig Development Trust, the parent body which established and runs the store.

 

Newton - who was administrator of the organisation at the time - admitted both charges.

 

Her lawyer, Ken Macdonald, told the court he had “no doubt the money will be repaid. There will be no attempt to evade responsibility.”

 

He explained her home was on the market through his firm and Newton “gave us a mandate to pay the full sum” towards the debt.

 

At the same time, a legal process towards seizing the money obtained from Newton is underway with a hearing under the proceeds of crime legislation to be held next month.

 

 

Shop boss given six months to repay stolen cash

 

8 November 2015