Bank worker stole £15K from elderly customer's account

Dawn Howe committed the offence while working as a customer services adviser for Halifax Bank .

Leeds Crown Court heard Howe began stealing £1,000 at a time from the cash machine at the branch where she worked in Normanton, Wakefield, when her husband’s business got into financial difficulties.

Dave Mackay, prosecuting, told the court that Howe would then pay the stolen sums into her own bank account, which she used to pay family bills but did not tell her husband about her offending.

Mr Mackay said mother-of-two Howe, 45, then targeted an account belonging to an elderly customer.

The court heard how the account was not used regularly so Howe withdrew £15,000 and used it to replace the money she had stolen.

The offending only came to light when the customer realised money had been withdrawn from her account.

The Halifax Bank refunded the money to the woman and immediately carried out an investigation, which revealed Howe had been responsible for taking it.

She resigned from her job after being suspended.

Howe, of Sandown Avenue, Crofton, Wakefield, pleaded guilty to theft.

She told a probation officer she took the money as she feared bankruptcy as her husband’s business an electrician was struggling.

James Littlehales, mitigating, told the court that Howe’s husband’s business had now gone into liquidation and the couple were around £25,000 in debt.

The barrister said: “She was not using the money for luxuries or holidays as we so often hear.

“It was simply to pay the debts and try to keep a roof over their children’s heads.”

The judge gave Howe a 12 month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to do 300 hours unpaid community work.