Trimley post office co-workers charged with 9,300 fraud

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Trimley post office co-workers charged with £9,300 fraud by abuse of position

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Two former co-workers at a Trimley St Martin shop and post office have been charged with defrauding the business of nearly £9,500.

Hannah McCourt, of St George’s Street, Felixstowe, and Thomas Sullivan, of Childers Field, Felixstowe, made their first appearances on the charge before Ipswich magistrates after being summonsed to court.

McCourt, 38, and Sullivan, 24, are accused of fraud by abuse of position.

McCourt is alleged to have abused her role as a counter clerk/sales assistant at McColl’s, Trimley Post Office in High Road, Trimley St Martin.

The allegation relates to the period between January 15 this year and March 5.

McCourt is said to have made a gain of 9,350.89 for Sullivan.

Sullivan’s charges also relates to the same period of time and amount of money and alleges he intended to make a gain for himself while working as a sales assistant.

No indication of pleas were made during the hearing which lasted less than 10 minutes.

Prosecutor Tamzin Sharp told the magistrates: “The Crown say this matter is not suitable for your jurisdiction.”

The clerk of the court also told the bench that the starting point for sentencing should there be a conviction would be around 12 months’ imprisonment, and that the maximum sentencing powers in a magistrates court was six months’ imprisonment.

John Hughes, for McCourt, and Mark Holt, for Sullivan, made no representations on behalf of their clients.

The three magistrates committed the case to Ipswich Crown Court.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for September 10.

McCourt and Sullivan were released on unconditional bail.