Glasgow couple scammed Wheatley Group by using £25k covid vouchers intended for struggling families

The vouchers were to help tenants through covid to assist those with pre-payment meters.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A couple scammed their employers in a £25,000 voucher fraud affecting hard up families.

Donna Baillie, 44, and Stephen Kelly, 45, teamed up to defraud housing organisation The Wheatley Group in Glasgow in January 2022.

Office worker Baillie was able to get hold of the vouchers issued by the company. The vouchers were to help tenants through covid to assist those with pre-payment meters.

The vouchers - which were to be claimed at supermarkets - were sent to residents' mobile phones to top up pre-paid fuel cards. In exceptional circumstances, the vouchers could be exchanged for money.

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Baillie and company driver Kelly were seen on a number of occasions on CCTV cashing them in for themselves at supermarkets such as Asda.

The cooked pair, of the city's Summerston, were caught following a company audit. Baillie and Kelly were sacked immediately from their roles at The Wheatley Group.

The duo pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to embezzling £25,000 from the company.

Paul McCormick, defending Baillie, told today's sentencing that his client has found new employment and can pay back £300 per month.

Bob McDowall, defending Kelly, stated his client can also pay back an identical amount as he works two jobs.

The lawyer added: "There were severe financial pressures on him at the time.

"Clearly this matter takes him beyond the custodial threshold and he is lucky that this is on a summary complaint.

"He understands the impact of his behaviour and he is remorseful."

It was revealed that Kelly has one road traffic previous conviction.

Sheriff Lesley Dowdalls ordered the pair to pay £5,000 each in compensation to their former employers.

They were sentenced to 270 hours of unpaid work and put under supervision for two years.

Baillie and Kelly were further tagged for six months keeping them indoors between 7pm and 6am.

The sheriff told them: "This is a very serious offence and you are both equally culpable.

"This was a gross breach of trust put upon you by your employer and you have paid little back in the way of compensation.

"It is acknowledged that the custodial threshold has been passed but I have taken the opportunity to read your financial circumstances and there is an alternative disposal available.

"I am just persuaded that I can deal with this other than custody."

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