Employee who stole hundreds of thousands of pounds from Sunderland charity jailed
An employee at a Sunderland charity has been jailed after stealing £285,000 with the organisation having to close down following the theft.
The Pennywell Youth Project had offered "hope, relief and guidance" to the people living in the Sunderland suburb since it was established in the 1980s.
But Newcastle Crown Court heard between January 2020 and September 2022 trusted employee Jodie Robson transferred £285,229.50 into her account and used it on online gambling, forcing the charity to shut down.
Robson said she used the cash to try and generate more money for the charity in an uncertain financial climate during the pandemic.
The 32-year-old, of Pennygreen Square, Pennywell, Sunderland, admitted theft by employee.
Judge Tom Moran locked her up for 28 months and told her: "You said you were worried about the charity's finances and decided to try and have a big win to help the charity out.
"You said you intended to pay the money back. The probation officer didn't believe you and I am satisfied there did come a time, probably early on, when you must have known that was never going to happen."
The judge added: "You caused a long established and very valuable charity to close down, with everything that involves."
Prosecutor Mairi Clancy said the charity was founded in the 1980s and it erected a purpose-built community centre in the grounds of St Thomas' Church in Pennywell.
Miss Clancy said the organisation was originally aimed to help youths in the "socially and economically deprived" area and added: "It expanded to provide services for adults and families.
"There was education classes for young people who had been excluded for school or left without qualifications. There was workshops, cycling and camping trips."
The court heard the centre provided reasonably priced meals, bingo and there were chicken coops and beehives, meaning eggs and honey could be sold to raise cash.
Miss Clancy said Robson had been a user of the charity as a youth, volunteered there and was eventually employed.
The court heard Robson's exact job title was "unclear" but she was responsible for payroll and obtaining grants and funding for the charity.
Miss Clancy said during the pandemic staff were furloughed, although Robson continued working, and the usual management meetings were unable to take place, which meant "finances were not being overseen as they might have been otherwise".
The court heard in September 2022 it became clear the charity had "run out of funds and money had been stolen from the bank account".
Investigations revealed Robson had transferred £460,149 from the charity's account into her own between January 2020 and September 2022.
Miss Clancy said some of the money was spent for legitimate purposes on behalf of the charity and wages but a total of £285,229.50 was unaccounted for and added: "The theft signalled the end of the charity. All the money was gone and in 2022 solicitors and liquidators became involved and the charity ceased to exist."
Former colleagues and management at the charity said in impact statements Robson's theft was a "huge betrayal" to the service users and employees, who were left without jobs.
CEO Cassandra O'Neil said in her impact statement the charity provided "hope, relief and guidance" to the community and she felt enormous guilt that she could not protect it from a "predator".
Another former worker said the charity was the "heartbeat of the community" and "more than just a job, it was a passion".
Claire Anderson, defending, said Robson, who had an online gambling habit, was a "Jack of all trades, master of none" and received little formal training for her various roles.
Miss Anderson said grants and funding started to dry up when the centre could not open during the pandemic and added: "The defendant's logic, rightly or wrongly, was to take some of the money and use it on online gambling websites to try and get the charity to be sustainable. For individuals like her it was a logical way out."
Miss Anderson said Robson did not live an extravagant lifestyle or have luxury holidays and has since been the subject of leaflets "framing her in a derogatory way" around town and added: "Pennywell is a tight community and one where idol gossip becomes fact. She is devastated for herself and for the project she referred to as her sanctuary. She lived and breathed that project, like the others.
"She is genuinely remorseful and apologises to all involved in the charity. She understands the anger and frustration and upset caused to each of them. She only ever did this because she cared."