Bank manager jailed after fraud
An Edinburgh bank manager who was caught making fake loans to swindle £80,000 has been jailed for two years.
Charlotte Walker, 41, made 10 fraudulent loans in fictitious names over two years and transferred the cash to her own accounts.
Walker, from South Queensferry, earlier admitted the fraud, which took place between 2005 and 2007 at Clydesdale Bank at Edinburgh's Hanover Street.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard Walker had got into financial difficulties.
After the break down of her marriage she bought a home for her and her daughter but was unable to keep up with mortgage repayments.
Sheriff Nigel Morrison QC told her: "This is a very serious fraud of £80,000 and a breach of trust, as you were an employee there for 24 years.
"It is not clear what you would propose to do in relation to repayment, there has been none to date.
"I take into account you are a first offender and at a low risk of re-offending and you pled guilty at the earliest opportunity but in view of the breach of trust it has to be a custodial sentence."
The sheriff said he had reduced the jail term from three years to reflect the guilty plea.
Defence agent Ewen Roy appealed to the sheriff to impose community service as an alternative to custody.
Mr Roy added Walker had also suffered from severe depression and anxiety as a result of the offences but was now working full-time again.
He also said the bank was seeking to claw back the money through civil proceedings