Mum stole to spoil her son

Single mother-of-one Maxine Cannell, 37, was given two company credit cards to pay for expenses at Bexhill tools and fixings firm Trim-Fix UK Ltd.

But instead Lewes Crown Court heard how the office worker frittered the cash on toys and presents for her only son.

The court was told how she withdrew 200 sums at a time over a two-year period despite being given a limit of 20 a week.

She was finally caught out when she went away on holiday and colleagues at the London Road-based firm discovered un-opened post and unpaid bills.

Cannell was arrested when she flew home and told police in interview she got "carried away".

She said: "I just kept drawing money out. I don't know why I did it. We were not hard up. The more I did it the more I wanted.

"I kept drawing money out and buying stupid things. If my son wanted something I would buy it for him. I just could not stop what I was doing."

Prosecutor Elizabeth Smaller told the court Cannell joined the firm two months after it was set up by managing director Michael Lear in April, 2004.

She said: "She was to be his assistant and she had day-to-day running of the office which was in due course moved to a separate location at his suggestion.

"She set up a sort of counter to attract passing trade and he makes it clear that, by and large, he left her to her devices.

"In September, 2004 he ordered a credit card for the sole use of his company expenses such as travelling to exhibitions and overseas to see suppliers.

"He rarely used it so he gave the card to her and told her the pin number.

"He explained that she could use the card for business purposes in respect of TrimFix and gave her a limit of 20 a week which was allowed out for petty cash."

Cannell, of South Street, Gosport, Hants, admitted theft and criminal deception and asked for a further eight offences to be taken into consideration.

Defending, Alissa Scott-Beckett told the court: "She entirely accepts that the offences committed are inexcusable and nothing can justify her behaviour.

"She now recognises money is not what forms the basis of her relationship with her son."

Judge Paul Tain ordered Cannell to do 200 hours' unpaid work and gave her a curfew banning her from leaving her home between 8pm and 5am.

He said: "This employer played into your hands by giving you a couple of bank cards and not employing any security measures to protect himself from your depredations.

"But he was perfectly entitled to treat you as he found you, an apparently respectable mother."

Judge Tain also ordered Cannell to pay back the full sum of 18,097 in compensation.