Prosecutors bid to recover £1.5m gran stole from employer

A judge has set a two-day hearing for a proceeds of crime action against a Scottish grandmother who stole £1.5m from her employers.

Judge Lady Ross arranged for the proceedings to take place against Coleen Muirhead, 56, following a short procedural hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday.

A court previously heard how Muirhead indulged in expensive holidays and bought cars and caravans after stealing the money over a six year period.

Judge Lord Fairley jailed Muirhead for three years and three months for the crime which took place whilst she was employed at Panda Rosa Metals in Aberdeen between June 2015 and October 2021.

Prosecutors have launched a bid to recover the sum stolen by using proceeds of crime action.

Muirhead admitted last year that she embezzled £1,524,192.37 while employed at Panda Rosa Metals, in Canal Road, Aberdeen between June 2015 and October 2021.

As Muirhead’s crime was uncovered she wrote to a colleague and said: “Police have just raided! So I will need a visitor in jail! Please don’t think the worst of me.”

When the colleague expressed confusion Muirhead responded: “Don’t be I have taken the money am so sorry.”

Muirhead, of Farquhar Road, Aberdeen, a mother of four and grandmother to seven, admitted to police after her arrest that she was responsible for creating false accounts and stealing the money from the firm.

Defence solicitor advocate Kris Gilmartin said: “On the face of it it is difficult to fathom why the offence was committed. She was previously a law abiding citizen.”

But Mr Gilmartin said the social work report prepared on her set out “significant childhood trauma” and difficulties in her upbringing.

“She had used alcohol and gambling as a coping mechanism,” he told the court.

He said that following the death of her father her drinking and gambling increased as did her offending.

Mr Gilmartin said: “This offending behaviour started off as a small matter and escalated quickly.”

He said: “The report makes clear she is remorseful and she regrets the offending. She acknowledges she has brought shame to her family.”

He said she sought to apologise to the McAllister family, who own and operate the business, who gave her employment in their firm.

Mr Gilmartin said: “She is fearful of custody, but accepts she committed the offence and requires to be punished.”

The court heard that the metal recycling firm ran two sites in Aberdeen and Muirhead worked with the firm as an administrative assistant since July 2014.

Prosecutor David Dickson said scrap metal was brought to the sites by firms and individuals and weighed. A ticket was produced which was sent to staff who provided an advice note of materiels, weight and price. Sellers then sent an invoice for payment.

Mr Dickson said: “During the course of the years following the accused beginning employment with Panda Rosa, another employee, who was responsible to for instructing payment of the accused’s wages, became aware that she went on expensive holidays with her family, paid for a full table at a charity event, purchased alcohol for those attending the event and bought new motor vehicles.”

“The accused also told her that she had paid for her son’s wedding, had purchased static caravans and had set up ISAs for her grandchildren,” said the prosecutor.

Her embezzlement came to light after a senior partner in the firm reviewed records and concluded that something was not right. She began looking for information for “G Anderson” who appeared to be a significant customer but turned out to be an invention of Muirhead.

Police were contacted and a systematic search of her home was carried out.

Mr Dickson said: “Documents in relation to credit cards, financial letters relating to the purchase of motor cars and motorcycles, documentation relating to ISAs for family members, £2,312 in cash, £3,300 in git vouchers and documentation in relation to the purchase of two static caravans to the value of £78,077 were recovered.”

Now prosecutors will try to persuade a judge that she should hand over her ill gotten gains to the authorities.

The hearing against her will take place on May 8 and May 9 next year.