By James Simons-
A former office manager who stole more than £26,000 from the charity she worked for has escaped jail.
Charlotte Fitch-Murphy, 52, of Paignton Close near Gallows Corner, was given a 15-month suspended jail sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court on October 31. Her suspended sentence is to last for two years.
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She had been the office manager at Ardleigh House Community Association for more than 12 years.
She was suspended and then dismissed from the Hornchurch charity after her criminal conduct was detected.
The crook pleaded guilty to the theft, which amounted to £26,253.93, on April 22, 2021 at Snaresbrook Crown Court last year. The charity’s chair, Leslie Stock, previously told the Recorder the charity could have “easily gone out of business if she (Fitch-Murphy) had stolen a bit more”.
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Following sentencing, Ms Stock said that “justice has been done”, after a period in which Fitch-Murphy caused Ms Stock and her colleagues “a great deal of stress and anxiety”.
The hearing followed a series of delays, with sentencing originally due to be held on February 24 this year.
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