Ex-credit union manager charged with fraud

Beverley Farmer, who used to work at Leeds City Credit Union (LCCU), has been charged with fraudulently obtaining £18,500 through abuse of position and a further 12 counts of theft.

The Yorkshire Post has previously revealed that Ms Farmer, 50, from Tingley, near Wakefield, was being investigated by West Yorkshire Police over allegations of irregular money transfers and obtaining loans without proper authorisation.

The inquiry led to Ms Farmer being arrested in December 2010. West Yorkshire Police confirmed she has now been charged and is due to appear before Leeds magistrates today.

LCCU chief executive Chris Smyth said: “After discovering the alleged theft three years ago the credit union dismissed Beverley Farmer and reported the matter to the police. No member of the credit union lost any money as a result of the alleged theft.

“We are pleased the police have now pressed charges. However this does go back some time and the main focus of the credit union is the provision of services to families across Leeds in these hard economic times.”

After her dismissal, Ms Farmer went on to obtain two further jobs at credit unions in Yorkshire, latterly at Calderdale Credit Union which last night confirmed she was no longer employed there.

LCCU, which has 27,000 members, has been dogged by controversy following a Yorkshire Post investigation which revealed a catalogue of mismanagement which required an emergency £4m bailout from public funds.