Council worker sentenced for embezzlement

A council worker who embezzled thousands of pounds from a fund for vulnerable people has been sentenced.

Nadine McAleney tried to cover her crime by changing paperwork at East Renfrewshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership.

She took £27,000 in just a year and a half and was stopped after another member of staff was brought in to help with the accounts.

The West Lothian woman told police she used the money for her daily living expenses.

She was sentenced today at Paisley Sheriff Court for what prosecutors said was an “egregious betrayal of trust”.

McAleney, from Bathgate, embezzled the sum between April 2019 and November 2020.

The 34-year-old worked as a business improvement assistant at the local authority and cashed cheques which were intended for service clients, altering a financial spreadsheet to cover her actions.

Discrepancies were uncovered in September 2020 and managers were alerted.

McAleney admitted embezzlement and was given a community payback order and told to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work. A restriction of liberty order will be in place for one year.

Anne Marie Hicks, procurator fiscal for North Strathclyde, said: “Nadine McAleney committed an egregious betrayal of trust by taking advantage of her position to embezzle money that was set aside to help the most vulnerable people in our society. 

“She showed no regard for the impact her crimes would have on vulnerable adults and children who relied on support from East Renfrewshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership. She has now been brought to account for her crimes. 

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