Bank manager jailed for stealing £70,000 to play fruit machines

Catherine Fox had worked for Lloyds TSB for 35 years before her dishonesty was uncovered at the Moortown branch in Leeds after one of her victims died.

Nicoleti Alistari, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court that a relative administering the elderly woman’s estate noticed discrepancies and reported it to the 
bank.

An internal investigation then revealed Fox had stolen from 19 customers over a nine-month period, particularly targeting pensioners who might not notice what she was doing.

Many of her victims were in their 80s and one who was partially sighted was 86.

They told police they had trusted Fox because she had always been so helpful and friendly and were unaware she was pocketing cash for herself.

The court heard Fox helped herself to amounts varying from £500 to £6,000 between July 2010 and April 2011 either when she transferred money for them from one account to another or when they came in to withdraw cash, filling in the withdrawal slip for a greater sum than requested.

When her dishonesty came to light she revealed she had gambled on fruit machines and had significant debts. She said she felt ashamed at what she had done.

She had stolen a total of £74,600 with the bank having to pay back a further £2,727 in interest and compensation.

Tim Jacobs, representing Fox, said she had worked hard for the bank for years to reach her responsible position and had not only lost that employment but her good name.

He told the court she had raised a family successfully, in spite of suffering from depression which had worsened when her father died suddenly and unexpectedly.

Mr Jacobs said her problems “came to a perfect storm” and added: “She needed money and she saw the opportunity which in her weakness she took.”

Fox, 53, of Horton Close, Rodley, Leeds, was jailed for two years after she admitted 19 charges of theft.

Judge Scott Wolstenholme said it was “an absolute disaster” for her family, for whom he felt sorry, but added: “It is difficult to think of a more serious breach of trust, a bank manager stealing from customers.”