The heartbroken boss of a Lanarkshire haulage firm says the employee who stole £90,000 from his family business had his "total trust" and was like "a part of the family"
Andrea Cochrane – who worked for A. Steel & Son Contracts for 31 years – made it look like cash was being paid to the company's accountants, when in fact it was going straight into her own bank account.
Mum-of-two Cochrane, of Millbank Avenue, Bellshill, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday where she admitted embezzling the huge sum from the firm, based in Jackton Farm, Eaglesham.
Court heard how the 51-year-old’s dishonesty took place between January 2018 and June the following year.
Jim Steel, whose father started the company back in 1953 and who has just handed over the reins to his son, told Lanarkshire Live of the shock and disappointment felt by everyone at the company.
And he told how her selfish actions have left the company “struggling”.
Mr Steel said: “It’s heart breaking - she was part of the family almost. She had our total trust.
“I just don’t know how she could sit there and do that to us on a daily basis.”
Addressing the court last week, prosecutor Mairi-Clare McMillan said Cochrane had been employed by the company for 31 years when the crime came to light.
Her duties included dealing with payments for customers and staff.
A member of the family which owns the business had noted anomalies in the financial records.
These included a £2500 payment to its accountants.
Cochrane was asked about this and claimed it was an overpayment.
Her explanation was accepted as “plausible,” the fiscal stated, but further investigations were made.
The company records showed that on another occasion, £28,000 had apparently been paid to the accountants when the payment should have been only £10,000.
Ms McMillan said: “The company’s bank provided what it said were the account details for the accountants.
“However, the account number and sort code were for the accused’s personal bank account.
“It was later confirmed that a total of £90,000 had been paid into her account.”
The police were alerted and almost immediately Cochrane instructed her lawyer to write to the company, accepting responsibility for the missing money and apologising for what she had done.
She offered to pay £200 per month “until all the debt is paid off”.
Defence agent Alan Murray said his client felt “great distress” for the family-owned company.
The court heard how bankruptcy proceedings against Cochrane are underway and her home is being sold.
Her husband does not work, but she now has a job in a bakery.
Sheriff John Speir deferred sentence on Cochrane, who has no previous convictions, until next month for a criminal justice social work report.
Speaking after his former employee admitted her guilt, Mr Steel added: “It’s left us struggling, but we’ll get over it.
“Once she’s been sentenced, we’ll put it behind us and move on.”