Former council worker who stole £27k avoids jail due to childcare

We previously reported that Nadine McAleney was employed by East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership as a business improvement assistant when she embezzled £27,000 over the course of around 19 months. 

The greedy 34-year-old was responsible for maintaining a “client money spreadsheet” and cashing cheques allowing funds to be made available to clients under the care of East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership. 

Once cheques had been cashed, the spreadsheet that callous McAleney was responsible for would be updated accordingly with the amount, who had received the money and the remaining account balance. 

However, between April 18, 2019 and November 10, 2020, McAleney cashed the cheques to herself and altered the spreadsheet inputs to make the balance appear correct. 

McAleney was arrested in May 2024 - just two days before her birthday, after “large discrepancies” were discovered by a colleague. 

McAleney was alleged to have embezzled £37,295; however, her guilty plea to an amended charge of £27,000 was accepted by the Crown.

Procurator fiscal depute Tracey Wight today told Paisley Sheriff Court: “During April 2019, the accused began shadowing Ms Flower, who provided on-the-job training which included the process and practices around the management and updating of the client money spreadsheet. 

“Over the space of two weeks, the accused began having full responsibility for the management and balancing of the spreadsheet.

“This responsibility also meant the accused was one of the two individuals who would attend at their Clydesdale Bank branch and cash cheques for any required client funds.

“The accused was appointed one of the signatories on the bank account along with other selected staff members within the office.

“From April 2019 until November 2019, the accused held responsibility for managing the client money spreadsheet used to record payments from DWP and outgoings to clients.

“The accused reassumed this role in March 2020 until November 2020.

“During September 2020, Ms McCormack was brought in to assist the accused in the running of the client money process, although the accused maintained sole access to the client money spreadsheet.

“Ms McCormack took over the role the accused had vacated from November 2020.

“She assumed sole responsibility for maintaining the spreadsheet, at which time she made supervisors aware of large discrepancies in the account balance.”

The court heard an assessment was carried out, which came to the conclusion that “all anomalies” had occurred during the period of McAleney’s employment.

It was discovered the spreadsheet was not balancing and that hidden lines and columns had been inserted with totals recorded, which caused the overall balance to reflect the bank statement but did not represent the money paid out to clients. 

Defence agent Gemma Elder told the court the mother-of-two has “displayed the appropriate remorse.” 

She explained: “The report indicates she was experiencing financial difficulties and that hardship brought her to offending in an opportunistic fashion.”

Sheriff Marney slammed McAleney, stating: “You’re very well aware what you have committed. This was a significant breach of trust.

“This sort of offence entirely merits a custodial disposal. I have to take a number of factors into account. I have to consider the care of your children, and that is the only factor that stands between you and prison today.”

As a “direct alternative to custody”, Sheriff Marney ordered the administration worker, now of Whiteside in Bathgate, to wear a tag for 12 months, keeping her within her home between 7pm and 7am each day.

In addition, McAleney was ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work in the community.