The theft of more than $25,000 from the Maniototo Four Square by a former employee has had devastating effects on the store’s owners and staff and significantly affected the Maniototo community, the Alexandra District Court has heard.
Gina Marie Spooner (47) had admitted stealing $25,749.96 in cash and product from the shop between December 1, 2014 and December 24, 2016.
She had been a trusted member of the management team, but had taken the money in ways including by voiding cash sales and by adding charges to customers’ accounts, Judge Michael Turner heard yesterday.
A victim impact statement from shop owners Michelle and Martin Grundy said the theft had had significant financial and emotional consequences for them and staff felt betrayed. The Grundys said they felt they had treated Spooner well, but she had "thrown that in their faces" and abused their trust.
The breach of trust had also affected the customers from whom Spooner also stole (through their shop accounts) and the wider Maniototo community. The Grundys paid back to customers all the $18,591.06 Spooner had taken from them, bearing the costs themselves until most was reimbursed by their insurance.
When Spooner stopped working for them, the Grundys were also a staff member down, and they both worked seven days a week for many months.
As well as additional work and business disruption, "they [the Grundys] feel their good name has been tarnished, and it will take some time to rebuild that trust", Judge Turner said.
The theft came to light when a discrepancy in a till was noticed, and CCTV cameras were installed. Spooner was then seen taking money from the till and her offending was uncovered, just before Christmas.
At what was their busiest time of the year, the Grundys were forced to investigate Spooner’s offending and a disciplinary meeting with her was held on Christmas Eve.
She admitted the offending, telling police she was surprised at how much she had taken, but that she had "become greedy" and "it was easy" to take the money, Judge Turner said.
Counsel for Spooner, Kieran Tohill, said Spooner had been under financial pressures but Judge Turner dismissed that, saying there was no evidence of that, and no mitigating factors to her offending.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Ian Collin said there was an "element of sophistication" and pre-meditation to Spooner’s offending.
Mr Tohill said Spooner had "lost her life through her own fault" because of the offending, her marriage having ended since then. She planned to move to Dunedin to live with family.
Judge Turner sentenced Spooner to seven months’ home detention and 250 hours’ community work.
Spooner was also ordered to pay reparation of $1000 to the Grundys, representing the insurance excess they had paid, and $10,000 to Vero Insurance.
Spooner was also ordered to make a public apology in a local newspaper, and write formal apologies to the Grundys and the more than 30 customers from whom Spooner had stolen.
