Motherwell women caught after employer became suspicious

A Motherwell woman has admitted embezzling £726,000 from trusts set up to benefit charities.

Susan McMahon, 34, pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to embezzling £726,765 between May 2006 and May 2013.

McMahon, an assistant manager in the trust department of accountancy firm Grant Thornton, falsified documents so her bosses would authorise cheques

They believed money was going to charities including Save the Children but instead she transferred the cash into accounts held by herself and her husband.

The court was told her husband had no knowledge of what she was doing.

Susan McMahon was remanded in custody by Sheriff Alan Miller, who deferred sentence on the mother of three until next month.

The court heard six trusts administered by McMahon had funds fraudulently removed and that no money had been repaid.

A spokesman for Grant Thornton said: "Grant Thornton, together with its insurers, is in the course of addressing compensation arrangements with the affected trusts in respect of the losses they have been shown to have incurred by reason of Mrs McMahon's criminal activity.

"Whilst not wishing to be anything other than helpful, you will appreciate that Grant Thornton is constrained by obligations of confidence from disclosing any further details in relation to such arrangements."