Danielle Longstaffe, a 32-year-old woman from Newcastle, avoided jail after being found guilty of defrauding her employer of £370,000.
The court decided not to send her to prison because she is pregnant, and the judge said the well-being of her unborn child had to be the priority.
Danielle worked for Kaefer Ltd, a company where she had been a transport administrator since 2012. Over several months, she used her position to steal large amounts of money. The court heard that she transferred £218,000 to her own accounts and those of others.
She also hired vehicles through the company’s suppliers without approval, resulting in 33 vehicles being unaccounted for.
Additionally, she misused the company’s credit card and left unpaid charges for parking and toll roads, bringing the total loss to more than £370,000.
Her crimes were discovered when a manager noticed £80,000 to £90,000 missing over just two months in 2022.
When questioned, Danielle admitted what she had done and worked with her employer to figure out the full extent of her fraud. The company suffered significant financial harm, and her actions negatively impacted 300 colleagues who worked there.
In court, Danielle explained that she started stealing because she was being pressured by loan sharks. Her defense lawyer said she had been a respected and reliable employee for nine years but became desperate when facing financial difficulties.
The lawyer also pointed out that Danielle has a history of mental health issues and is responsible for taking care of her elderly grandmother.
The judge, Recorder Harry Vann, said that such a large-scale crime would normally lead to immediate prison time. However, he took into account her pregnancy and the need to avoid her giving birth in jail. He also considered her mental health struggles and personal circumstances.
As a result, Danielle was given a two-year prison sentence, but it was suspended for two years. This means she will not go to jail unless she commits another crime during that time. She was also ordered to undergo mental health treatment as part of her sentence.
The judge told Danielle that she had abused her position of trust in the company where she had worked for nearly a decade. He described the amounts stolen as “enormous” and said her actions were a serious betrayal of her employer and colleagues.
Despite this, the court decided that her unborn child’s welfare and her personal circumstances required a more compassionate approach.
Danielle’s case serves as an example of how personal circumstances, such as pregnancy and mental health, can influence sentencing decisions, even in cases involving serious financial crimes.
