A jeweller defrauded her uncle's business out of more than £26,000 worth of jewellery and money by using business accounts to buy Clogau Gold which she then sold on eBay. The fraud left her uncle feeling betrayed by his niece and unable to retire for another 10 years.
Sian McLean, 47, was employed at her uncle Michael Newth's shop KMP Jewellers in Maesteg, Bridgend, between May 2015 and March 2019. Her role entailed opening and closing the shop, serving customers, buying and selling jewellery, and ordering from suppliers as well as acting as the bookkeeper and preparing accounts.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard she took on a greater role at the jewellers after Mr Newth spent time in Spain caring for his brother. But in March 2019 inquiries were made regarding a missing necklace and it was discovered that bank accounts related to the business did not tally with card payments being made in the shop and a substantial amount of jewellery was missing.
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Mr Newth also found a number of invoices had been unpaid, including from suppliers Clogau Gold, and discovered McLean had been using the company account to purchase jewellery which she sold on eBay. He confronted his niece who he claimed apologised and asked if she could repay him through a payment plan.
The police were called and McLean, of Henllys, Trebanog, Porth, was arrested but she denied the offences and claimed she had permission to use the company account to purchase the jewellery and had paid her uncle back in cash. An investigation was launched and the discrepancy between the bank accounts and the card payment was found to be £4,284. The orders from Clogau Gold were also investigated and the defendant had ordered 194 items worth £9,835.
McLean had also taken 38 lots of scrap gold from the shop including items purchased from customers such as rings, watches, and earrings, which came to £11,389. She sold the items for her own gain without paying the business back making £4,928. It was calculated the total loss to KMP Jewellers came to £26,168.
The defendant was found guilty of fraud by abuse of position following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court last year. The court heard she was of previous good character. In a victim personal statement read out to the court, Mr Newth said: "I loved her and trusted her. The most profound feelings I have toward her are betrayal.... She has destroyed my trust in others. I was devastated at the revelation a family member had stolen from me, the scale of which is beyond comprehension.
"She did this in the knowledge I would have to pay for the items she sold on eBay which is horrendous. Due to the debt she left instead of planning for retirement with my wife at the age of 72 I will have to continue to work for a prolonged period of time of 10 years... I can't comprehend how she could do this to me and my family. People ask me how did I know nothing and I feel stupid and blame myself."
In mitigation defence barrister James Hartson said his client maintains her innocence but accepted the jury's verdict. He said the defendant had been described as a "kind and compassionate woman" who had suffered the recent bereavement of her mother just weeks before her trial. The barrister said she continued to care for her elderly father.
Recorder Victoria Hillier said McLean had maintained a "dishonest course of conduct". She sentenced the defendant to 24 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months and ordered her to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
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