Pensioner who embezzled tens of thousands from charity jailed

A pensioner has been jailed for embezzling almost £40,000 from a charity, in what has been described as an “egregious betrayal of trust” by prosecutors.

Jay Reid was a manager for Women’s Aid’s Argyll and Bute branch in Dunoon, where she stole the money over a five-year period – all to the tune of £39,726.63.

At her sentencing at Greenock Sheriff Court on Wednesday, the courtroom heard that Ms Reid, 67, splashed out on holidays to Tenerife and Amsterdam, and bought designer perfume and pricey jewellery from Amazon during the time of her offending between December 2016 and January 2021.

She also used the embezzled money to buy furniture from Ikea, a Weightwatchers’ membership and paid for vet bills.

As manager, the 67-year-old had control over the branch bank account and her crimes were revealed when her colleagues noticed their employer pension contributions had not been made.

Charity bosses launched their own investigation and her crimes were brought to light after a Scottish Government audit.

She was convicted on December 17 last year and on Wednesday, was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Anne Marie Hicks, procurator fiscal for North Strathclyde, said: “Jay Reid committed an egregious betrayal of trust by taking advantage of her position to embezzle money from her employers.“She showed no regard for the impact her crimes would have on vulnerable women and children who relied on support from Women’s Aid or the effect it would have on those trying to run such an important charity.

“The public will rightly be appalled.

“Embezzlement is not a victimless crime. As prosecutors, we are fully committed to tackling financial crime of this kind.”

Women’s Aid was approached for comment.