A "TRUSTED" finance boss spent six years siphoning thousands of pounds from the cancer charity she worked for into her own accounts, a court has been told.
Former Wessex Cancer Trust financial coordinator Paula Tribbeck transferred vital cash as the charity launched public fundraisers in a pitched battle to survive.
The charity, which helps people living with cancer and their families, faced possible closure and scrambled to raise £600,000 to save the organisation at the start of December 2019.
Bosses have told the Daily Echo that Tribbeck's crime, spanning from January 2013 to December 2019, left them "shocked and saddened".
Tribbeck, 48, has admitted fraud by abuse of position at Southampton Magistrates' Court.
READ MORE: Teenager jailed for dragging police officer down road on motorbike
The court heard how she stole money by abusing her position within the struggling charity.
She dishonestly transferred money from the bank accounts of Wessex Cancer Trust and its retail subsidiary WCT Wessex Limited to herself over six years.
She was eventually caught in 2019, with the charity taking immediate action and reporting the incident to the police.
READ MORE: Meat cleaver-wielding Southampton man racially abused postman
READ MORE: Man, 64, stole underwear and clothes from Eastleigh home
In a joint statement, Diane Cutler, chair of trustees, and Rachel Billsberry-Grass, chief executive, of Wessex Cancer Trust, told the Daily Echo: “We are shocked and saddened that a trusted member of staff would steal from our charity.
"This is a historic incident and when it was discovered in 2019, we took immediate action to inform the police and the Charity Commission, and to review all internal procedures.
“Since then, we have been supporting the police to gather evidence to bring this criminal case to court.
"The individual has now pleaded guilty in the magistrates' court, and we look forward to the sentencing hearing in October.
“As a charity, we are grateful for every penny that we receive from our supporters and the hard work of our volunteers.
"Without their generosity, we would not be able to offer local people living with cancer the emotional and well-being support they need.”
Tribbeck, of Broadlands Road, Southampton, is now due to be sentenced at the city crown court on October 18.
Wessex Cancer Trust gives free support to people affected by the disease at support centres in Chandler's Ford, Hythe, Andover, Bournemouth, and Newport.
It offers a drop-in service, professional counselling, complementary therapies, activities, support groups and courses.
Some £290,000 was raised to save it from going under in 2020.
A message from the Editor
Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.
Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.
You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.
Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.
Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook
Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article