A thief who stole £23,000 worth of jewellery and cash from a friend’s home has narrowly escaped jail.
Susan Beattie from Carnoustie will carry out 160 hours unpaid work as part of a Community Payback Order (CPO) imposed for the offence against former friend Michelle Sales while she was holidaying in Lanzarote.
Ms Sales returned home to find broken windows in the bedroom of her home at Ashludie steadings, near Monifieth, last October, and valuable belongings and money missing.
Beattie, 42, of Kinloch Street was found guilty after trial in July of the theft and appeared for sentence before Sheriff Pino di Emidio at Forfar on Thursday.
The accused’s former friend said the theft had had a devastating impact on her daughter who has cerebral palsy and now doesn’t want her mum to bring friends to their home.
The trial had heard the offence followed a 10-year friendship between Beattie and Ms Sales, who told the trial she instantly suspected the accused of the theft.
Among the jewellery items insurance saleswoman Beattie stole were sentimental items that had belonged to the victim’s ex-husband.
She later claimed Ms Sales had given her the haul as part of an insurance fraud scheme, but the sheriff ruled there was no evidence to support that suggestion.
Defence solicitor Billy Boyle told the court his client was aware a custodial sentence was possible.
“She was in a position of trust for a long time and never breached that trust. This was strange behaviour which has been cataclysmic for her and the victim,” he added.
“There has been an element of major concern because this has been hanging over her,” said Mr Boyle.
He said social media traffic following Beattie’s conviction was making employment difficult, but with the help of her parents the accused offered to pay compensation at £100 per month.
Sentencing Beattie, Sheriff di Emidio said: “This is a somewhat unusual case, but you were found guilty after trail of a charge involving significant dishonesty.
“You are before the court as a first offender and I have had careful regard to the terms of the criminal justice social work report.”
The sheriff added: “In the circumstances, although the option of sentencing you to custody is available to me, I do not require to do that.
Beattie must complete 120 hours of unpaid work within 12 months under the terms of the CPO, and was also made the subject of an 18-month supervision requirement.
In addition she was ordered to pay £1,800 compensation at the rate of £100 per month.