12-month suspended sentence after Post Office supervisor pleads guilty to theft

A woman who stole almost £18,000 from her workplace has been given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Christine Abrahams, 63, of Barlee Close in Clavering, had worked at Clavering Post Office in June 2021 when she took £17,992 before being caught.

Abrahams admitted to taking the money and pleaded guilty to theft at the earliest opportunity when attending Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 15 June. She was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday 29 August.

In their closing remarks, the Judge said Abrahams abused her ‘position of responsibility and trust’ and sought to conceal the shortfall her theft created.

Abrahams was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

Economic Crime Investigator Claire Elliot said:

“Abrahams knew what she was doing was wrong. She tried to cover her tracks and hide her actions form her employer.
“Now she has been sentenced and a failure to complete her unpaid work will see her sentence become a custodial one.
“Financial crimes like this are never victimless and are complex to prove, so I am glad to see the hard work of the Economic Crime Team and myself rewarded with this result.”

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