Coventry women defrauds cat charity of £10,000

She now has to pay the money back after treating herself to a holiday in Tenerife



A secretary of a cat charity stole almost £10,000 after getting into debt.

Debra Sherwood, who worked for Coventry Cats Protection, spent money on a holiday to Tenerife and home improvements despite her financial situation, Birmingham Live reports.

Sherwood, 61, of Hermitage Road, Stoke, Coventry has now been condemned for her 'deceit' by the charity she worked for.

Sherwood, who had previously admitted theft, began working for Coventry Cats Protection in 2018, which was concerned with the welfare and rehoming of cats.

She was responsible for the taking of fees and the banking of money donated by members of the public, usually between £60 and £100 each.

Simon Rippon, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said the theft came to light when discrepancies were noticed in relation to amounts paid for the adoption of cats.

Sherwood later admitted what she had done, saying she had been struggling financially, had difficulties keeping up with mortgage payments and was in poor health.

Wendy Harris, branch coordinator, said in a statement that the charity had been struggling because of the cancelling of events during the pandemic.

She says she was concerned about the reputational risk and that it had resulted in suspicion being placed on others in the organisation.

Mrs Harris said it had also affected her own mental health and that she had believed the defendant to be a friend.

In passing sentence, Judge Avik Mukherjee said "You admitted stealing just under £10,000 from your employer.

"It is really hard to imagine anything more mean than what you did.

"This was not a one-off. It was theft over a significant period of time and a gross breach of trust.

"You stole from a charity. It was almost inevitable that the paper chain would show that you alone stole the money.

"You claim that you were in huge debts but I note that you had a holiday in Tenerife and home improvements to your property.

"The effect upon the charity and your erstwhile friend Wendy Harris has been devastating."

She was sentenced to 14 months suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to pay £9,245 compensation to the charity.

Judge Avik Mukherjee said he had decided not to send Sherwood immediately to prison because of the devastating effect it would have on her health.

I'd like to bet she now makes a remarkable recovery?