Cheating accounts worker walks free

An accounts worker who brought a family-run Black Country firm to the brink of collapse by stealing £10,000 from the coffers has walked free from court.

Mother-of-two Sally Steatham, aged 29, wrote cheques and authorised bank transfers when she was left to run J&M Logistics' finances while her boss was in hospital.

Husband and wife John and Marion Bullock, who run the company, hit out at the "appalling" suspended prison sentence given to Steatham, who has a recent conviction for benefit fraud.

It was only when Mrs Bullock was released after her hospital treatment that she noticed "discrepancies" in the books at the company, in King Street, Cradley Heath.

Mr Julian Elcock, prosecuting, said: "She discovered numerous transactions that had gone on while she had been in hospital."

Steatham, of Melia Drive, Wednesbury, who at the time was on a holiday was confronted by text message.

Her boyfriend replied saying she was ill and that she would not be returning to the company, which employs four people and where she had worked from last March to September.

Recorder Mr Myles Watkins told Steatham, who has a previous conviction for benefit fraud: "The manner in which you stole from your employer is extremely serious.

"It's a small company and your theft would be more keenly felt."

He gave her a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, 150 hours of unpaid community work after she admitted theft.

Bosses John and Marion Bullock, of Netherton, who run the business were angered by the sentence.

Mr Bullock, aged 45, said: "I'm appalled. The victims always lose. It's unbelievable what she did. She befriended Marion when she was in hospital."

The pair said they feared the company would go under as a result of the theft, and are now awaiting the results of a Proceeds of Crime Application for compensation.

Mr Jas Mann, defending, said Steatham was in thousands of pounds of debt and "temptation got the better of her".