A LOCAL woman has narrowly escaped going to prison for fraud and theft from a building society after being found guilty by a jury at Cardiff Crown court.

Kathryn Hoskins, aged 42 from Meadway in Abergavenny was found guilty by a jury in March of fraudulently obtaining a cheque for £1,000 on March 27, 2009; fraudulently obtaining a cheque for £1,000 on 18 June, 2009; fraudulently obtaining a cheque for £1,000 on 30 November, 2009; between 1 February 2010 and 17 August 2010 abusing her position as building society cashier and the theft of £1,000 cash between 3 November, 2010 and 5 November, 2010.

Defence counsel Matthew Cobbe said in mitigation at Cardiff Crown Court last week: "Hoskins was a victim of two relationships, the first was an amicable break up while the second was the opposite with Hoskins subjected to violence during this break up.

"It was evident for some time that symptoms of the break up had put her into the difficulties she faced then and today.

"The break up also affected the well-being of other family members."

The court heard that Hoskins attempted to take her own life during the summer of 2010 and was taken into hospital suffering from depression.

Mr Cobbe added: "If Hoskins is sent to prison the state will end up dealing with the problem and therefore the overall impact cannot be assessed today. She has been on medical supervision for depression since the summer of 2010. A custodial sentence would have a great effect on her as someone who is already very fragile.

"It's simply a situation we cannot calculate."

Recorder Timothy Petts told the court that under normal circumstances Hoskins would be facing a minimum of a two-year prison sentence for her four offences of fraud and one offence of theft, but that her counsel had proved a number of mitigating circumstances

Recorder Petts added: "Reading the reports it seems that Hoskins is still in denial of her conviction. It appears she was very lucky to have been kept in her employment by Michael Waldron for as long as she was."

Defending, Mr Cobbe said, "This conviction will prove very difficult for Hoskins in obtaining any employment in the future."

Recorder Petts added, "In all these cases a breach of trust has occurred. "

Speaking to Hoskins directly Recorder Petts said: "You've been convicted of five offences while in a position of responsibility at an Abergavenny estate agent.

"Mr Waldron is a man who you worked for previously before you were appointed as a cashier for the Monmouthshire Building Society.

"But you chose to be deceitful when he was out of the office to undertake the first offence of obtaining a cheque. It seems you waited a few months before repeating the procedure again.

"You systemically withdrew the money over a period of time while the passbook holder was away from the office and on one occasion on holiday in Cornwall.

"On the last occasion you created a smoke screen to cover your tracks and told your colleagues that you had been told that the cash contained in the float was to be reduced by £1,000, a sum of which you helped yourself to.

"Were it not for the vigilance of the staff at the Monmouthshire Building Society your actions may not have been discovered.

"This offence had a significant degree of planning with you even accusing Mr Waldron of the theft of £1,000 from the float.

"Under normal circumstances cases like this would command a minimum of two years in prison as a breach of trust was certainly prevalent in this situation by you using Mr Waldron's identification on a number of occasions.

"You stayed out of trouble for 14 years before appearing before the courts again, yet you still seem to be still denying your guilt.

"Its obvious there are mental health issues here and I am told you have difficulty coping in custody, so sentencing you is a very difficult task.

"In normal circumstances I would only be considering a custodial sentence however I take the view of your counsel that sending you to prison would have an dramatic effect on you."

Hoskins was sentenced to a 12 month community order and a 12 supervision requirement.

Recorder Petts added: "Mr Cobbe makes the point that if you fail to complete the conditions of a community order you'll be back before this court. I hope you'll never see the inside of this court again.

"However I wish you all the best and I hope that some resolution in your life can come from these proceedings."

Hoskins is due to appear before a Proceeds Of Crime hearing on July 25 for the civil recovery of the stolen funds.