Credit union boss avoids prison after stealing from customers

Beverley Johnson, 52, abused her position working for the Leeds City Credit Union (LCCU) over a two-year period before her deception was uncovered.

Johnson, also known as Farmer, was told yesterday her offences were aggravated by the fact the credit union was used by “vulnerable” members of the community.

The grandmother was handed a two-month prison sentence, suspended for one year, and ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work after pleading guilty to 16 counts of fraud.

Leeds Crown Court heard Johnson’s offences took place between April 2007 and December 2008.

Paul Nicholson, prosecuting, said Johnson would transfer funds from customer accounts into credit union accounts held by family and friends. She was then able to remove the transferred sums.

Mr Nicholson said: “In addition to that there was money moved backwards and forwards between customers’ accounts. We believe it was an effort to conceal the amounts taken out.”

The matters came to light in early 2009 and Johnson was questioned by her bosses but continued to deny involvement.

Police were not informed until December 2010 and Johnson, of Rembrandt Avenue, Tingley, was arrested and interviewed on four occasions, but claimed someone else must have used her password. She finally admitted the offences last month.

Jason MacAdam, mitigating, said the offences happened while she was going through a divorce.

The Yorkshire Post first revealed Johnson had been sacked for allegations of irregular money transfers in one of a series of exposes highlighting mismanagement at LCCU.

Her sentence yesterday was welcomed by former Leeds MEP Michael McGowan, who stepped down as LCCU president after leading efforts to clean up its finances.