6:27pm Monday 8th February 2010
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.
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