Fraudsters could face jail after thefts from Trimley post office

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Two former employees of a Suffolk shop and post office who defrauded the business of £6,000 have been warned they could face jail when they are sentenced next month.

Judge David Goodin told Hannah McCourt, of St George’s Street, Felixstowe and Thomas Sullivan, of Childers Field, Felixstowe, that their abuse of position crossed the custody threshold but said it might be possible for him to pass suspended prison sentences on them.

McCourt, 38 and Sullivan, 24, both admitted fraud by abuse of position between January 15 and March 5 last year while employed at McColl’s, Trimley post office in Trimley St Martin, but each pleaded guilty on a different basis.

Giving evidence at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday, McCourt told the court she had covered up the money taken by Sullivan, who had a gambling habit, while they were having an affair.

She told the court she had taken £500 from work so that Sullivan could gamble it in the hope of repaying the money she claimed he had already taken. She claimed the rest of the missing money was stolen by Sullivan and she had covered it up on the computer at work.

Sullivan admitted having a gambling habit but denied having a sexual relationship with McCourt. He claimed they had been “very good friends” and had met for drinks.

He told the court he had “probably told her what she wanted to hear because he wanted the money.”

He claimed McCourt had given him money she had taken from work on three occasions.

Sentence was adjourned until the week beginning February 8 for pre-sentence reports.

The court heard that neither of the defendants had any previous convictions.