A WOMAN from Gwynedd was handed a suspended sentence after admitting to defrauding her former employer on 26 occasions in an attempt to repay debts accrued by gambling.

Helen Brauer, 35, of Bodelith, Bethel, Bala, had made a gain of £24,901.93 through her actions while working at the Blue Diamond-owned Derby Garden Centre.

She received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for one year, at Mold Crown Court today (February 7).

READ MORE:

Holyhead man fined after his out-of-control dog injured another person

Tesco confirm changes at stores including across North Wales

Anglesey athletes excel on the world stage in Boston and Berlin

Rosemary Proctor, prosecuting, told the court that, in April 2022, her employers discovered that, between January 2020 and April 2022, Brauer had processed refunds for garden centre merchandise to her own debit cards, but had not actually purchased or returned any.

She was called to an internal disciplinary meeting with the business’s regional audit manager, where she admitted to her actions.

Brauer also volunteered to go through her bank accounts and provide evidence of any refunds she had processed fraudulently.

She had been an employee there since 2014, and was working in the furniture department.

In May, she made a repayment of £16,910.59, and when interviewed by police in October, she made “full and frank admissions”.

Brauer, who had no previous convictions, said that she committed these offences to pay off debts incurred due to her gambling addiction.

Defending, Sian Barber said that Brauer had “co-operated” and “complied” throughout the investigation.

Her actions followed the breakdown of her marriage in 2019, and her gambling addiction had, in her own words, “spiralled out of control”.

She has since sought help on this issue by meeting with a gambling therapist and blocking herself from all betting sites.

Barber added that she told her she has “not gambled since” and has “no intention to do so again”.

Since moving to Wales, she has taken up full-time employment with Dŵr Cymru / Welsh Water, and makes monthly payments of £200 to Blue Diamond.

Brauer intends to repay any outstanding moneys once she receives her divorce settlement; with £6,700 still left to pay.

Barber invited the court to refrain from issuing an immediate custodial sentence, saying: “If she was sentenced to custody, she wouldn’t be in receipt of her income any longer."

Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry also ordered Brauer to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and to pay a £149 victim surcharge.

He told Brauer: “If it ever needed emphasising, this is yet another case that underlines the dangers of online gambling. It ruins lives, and it’s come close to ruining yours.

“Entirely out of character, you effectively attacked a decent little company, which puts that company at risk, but also puts the employment of others at risk.

“But you couldn’t have done anything more to put things right; you’ve paid back the majority of money.

“Don’t reoffend, do the work, pay the compensation, and get on with your life.”