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Boys’ FC treasurer jailed for £60k theft

6:27pm Monday 8th February 2010 in


A 40-YEAR-OLD woman who stole more than £60,000 from a youth football team and the Ministry of Defence was jailed today.

Natalie Ross, of Reedmace Road, Bicester, had been convicted by a jury at Oxford Crown Court of 17 counts of theft, obtaining by deception and false accounting.

The charges relate to her time as treasurer of Highfield Juniors FC and as a book-keeper at Bicester Garrison between 2004 and 2007.

The total amount taken was £63,451.17, but Ross was ordered to pay a nominal fee of £10 within 28 days under the Proceeds of Crime Act as Judge Patrick Eccles agreed she had no assets.

Graham Russell, defending, said: “Mrs Ross is somebody who had made a significant difference to the lives of her close friends and family.”

Judge Eccles sentenced Ross to 18 months in prison, and said she had effectively stolen money from the parents and youngsters involved with the football club.

Comments(11)

Headington-Heathcliff says...
6:59pm Mon 8 Feb 10

This is like the case at Blenheim Palace of a finance manager stealing £100,000. Where is the auditing, the management and the common sense in these organisations? If you put temptation and slack supervision in front of a thief, surely you are partly to blame for being robbed in this white-collar way. Better check my savings now...

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RJ says...
7:30pm Mon 8 Feb 10

I agree with HH about the absence of auditing and management - especially at the MOD.


However, people like this are in a position of trust, and may appear to be very trustworthy and upright. Therein lies part of the problem. We see what we want - and expect- to see.


There is also the widespread fear of money and figures . In a small organisation, one person can end up in sole charge of finance, just because no-one else wants to deal with it.


If this rings a bell in your organisation, people, put some checks and balances in now, for everyone's sake. This kind of thing is painful for everyone.

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Lord Palmerston says...
10:21pm Mon 8 Feb 10

Graham Russell, defending, said: “Mrs Ross is somebody who had made a significant difference to the lives of her close friends and family.”
Yes, indeedy. You never had to put your hand in your pocket when you went for a pint with her. Drink till you passed out. I sometimes wondered where the cash came from....

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MrsAnon says...
12:26pm Tue 9 Feb 10

DO NOT judge until you know the full evidence. I have known Natalie for some years and this is a woman who is dedicated to her friends and family. Not a thief as everyone seems to be making her out to be. I believe 100% that she is innocent- people get wrongly convicted of crimes everyday. The police should be out there catching real criminals like paedophiles and murderers instead of an innocent mother who has been made to look like a terrible person. How do you think her teenage son feels to see his mother branded with pictures spread all over the news??

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**Anon** says...
2:10pm Tue 9 Feb 10

I shocked at how much people judge when they beleive everything they read. I have been friens with Natalie for years and strongly beleive she is innocent. I personally think that she has been used as a scape goat for other peoples wrong doings and as always is the casewith things like this people have closed ranks and pinned it all on one person to just save their own backsides! I wish people wouldn't judge when they don't know the full facts! Natalie has been made out to be some sort of nasty vindictive person but i'm sure there are alot of people out there who know Natalie like i do who would agree that is so far from the truth!

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Lord Palmerston says...
3:46pm Tue 9 Feb 10

Yep, Anon, "people", 12 of them, did judge. Why are they wrong?,

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yer right says...
4:14pm Tue 9 Feb 10

seriously, do you really believe she was going to come right out and say ' it was me?!!! get real.

probably just dont want to believe that some of the stash might have come your way

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gemma006 says...
8:41pm Tue 9 Feb 10

I think its a joke how she was fined a Tenner and 18 months inside for 63k, wheres the justice in that , and how is she made a scape goat when she robbed from Highfield boys FC and Mod where she had worked for years god knows.I think more people will be de frauding the system if thats the only sentence you get.

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yer right says...
11:59am Wed 10 Feb 10

i think its really interesting that her good friends chose to remain anonymous. if you are such good friends and truly believe in her innocence why are you hiding behing anonymity? Bizarre behaviour, truly

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ExBoss says...
10:40am Thu 11 Feb 10

As someone that was involved in this case, I would just like to say to her friends that you are good friends, I wish that I had friends like you. But unfortunately, Natalie stole money from the start. She then refused to admit her guilt, costing the tax payers (you) thousands of pounds in Defence costs (all legal aid). She had absolutely no defence as the evidence was so strong. It took over 30 months to get to court, taking valuable police time and court time. At no time has Natalie admitted to her guilt or faced up to what she has done. I think the punishment is a joke. Prison is not the place for her, she should be made to work for all her benefits in a position giving back to the community she stole from but having no financial responsibility. Any money that she ever has in the future should then be taken from her and given back to the football club and the MoD.

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melissaBicester2519 says...
7:43pm Fri 12 Feb 10

I think you should all keep your disgraceful opinions to yaself!! Her family & friends are going through enough s**t without you lot making it worse... The people who knew Natalie would no for a FACT she would not do somethings like this! Where is your respect for her family! You shouldn't be so antaganstic towards those who love her! Grow Up and get on with ya lives!!
Love You Nat
****

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