New employee 'stole £35,000 from her job causing 5 people to be made redundant'
A newly-employed assistant accountant stole more than £35,000 from her company, causing at least five people to be made redundant, a court has heard.
Sarah Cunningham's actions "left a trail of destruction" while working for Velo Systems, forcing business owner Aria Taheri to sell his business at a loss. Cunningham, 41, had joined the company less than four weeks before when she started transferring money from the company account into another account she had set up.
Five minutes after she was first asked about the missing money by the company accountant, Cunningham said her mum had been "rushed into hospital after suffering a stroke" and she had to leave work. Despite her actions being branded by a judge as being motivated, in part, by "greed", Cunningham was spared a jail sentence after Manchester Crown Court heard she is currently receiving treatment for cervical cancer.
Aria Taheri said he was forced to sell his business at a loss (Aria Taheri/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)Prosecuting, Robin Kitching said it was a chance for Cunningham to "escape" as the business looked into her actions. The court heard that Cunningham began working for the East Manchester firm on April 5, 2019.
She had access to the company's banking system, but could not make payments without prior approval in her role. Mr Kitching said Cunningham set up an account that had a similar name to another company which Velo Systems worked with.
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She made the first payment on April 29, 2019, moving £4,550 from the company account. Cunningham made a further eight payments on six days, with the final payment being made on May 20, 2019, reports the Manchester Evening News. By that time, she had transferred a total of £35,810.10 from the company account, Mr Kitching said. Cunningham was asked about the payments by Velo Systems' company accountant the following day.
The court heard how the accountant had contacted the company with a similar name to the bank account set up by Cunningham, before reporting the issue to the bank's fraud department and police. Officers arrested Cunningham soon after and discovered a series of new, expensive items at her home, Mr Kitching said.
He added: "Police recovered a large number of brand new items of clothing, electrical items and receipts for further purchases, totalling very significant sums." Cunningham also transferred thousands of pounds to her relatives, the court heard.
She sent £24,555.08 to her mum, £7,700 to her dad and £2,030 to her sister, Mr Kitching said. Cunningham gave "no comment" to police during her interview. Appearing in court, Mr Taheri described the repercussions of Cunningham's actions as "nothing short of devastating", and "wreaking havoc on the lives of numerous employees".
He told the court that "five or six" workers had to be laid off as the company struggled with cashflow issues following Cunningham's actions, while he personally put £50,000 into the business to save it, before eventually selling it at a loss last year. Commenting on the impact it had on his health, Mr Taheri added: "The weeks that ensued were filled with sleepless nights and the need for therapy to address the turmoil that consumed me."
Cunningham, of Roecar Close, Chesterfield, but previously of Manchester, pleaded guilty to theft by the employee at a previous court hearing. She had two previous convictions. Defending, Brendan O'Leary told the court his client expressed "genuine remorse" for her actions. He explained that Cunningham, who has two children aged 14 and five, has 'reassessed her position' since 2019.
"She has moved away from Manchester," he said. "It's clear that there were negative influences around her in Manchester. She took a positive step to move away and try to start afresh... she has stayed out of trouble since then."
Mr O'Leary added that Cunningham was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2021 and is undergoing chemotherapy, with her health being a key reason why the case had taken so long to get to sentence. He said: "It has been a difficult and traumatic time for a single mum who contemplates mortality and, perhaps, what she has done in the past."
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