A trusted clerk who stole a small fortune from roy

A trusted clerk who stole a small fortune from royal bankers Coutts and Co to fund a ‘spend, spend, spend’ shopping compulsion was jailed for 12 months today (Thursday).

In an 18 month spree, ‘comfort shopper’ Julie Ahronson stole more than pnds stlng 32,000 to pay off credit card, store card and loan company debts – before entering another cycle of spending.

London’s Southwark Crown Court heard cash went on foreign holidays and clothes as the 30-year-old sought to buy friends and prop up her self-esteem.

It was claimed Ahronson, who has suffered eating disorders since being a schoolgirl, was severely depressed and suffered a ‘pathological shopping disorder.

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The defendant, of (2) Ladbroke Crescent, Albany Park, Sidcup, Kent, admitted theft from the bank between July 1997 and January last year.

The court was told Ahronson desperately wanted psychiatric help for her problem and since being caught out by investigators at Coutts, she had undergone a year of ‘living hell.

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After her arrest she attempted suicide, and Judge Valerie Pearlman heard after the first misappropriation of pnds stlng 1,500 the defendant was so worried about her finances she underwent an abortion as she did not believe she could afford a baby.

Sentencing, the judge told the tearful and shaking blonde she accepted she showed genuine remorse and shame.

‘But the fact remains that you were in a position of trust.

This offence, I regard as a deliberate offence committed over a period of 18 months, and in my judgement the only sentence, because it is so serious, is an immediate custodial sentence,’ said Judge Pearlman.

‘You personal circumstances, although sad, do not amount to exceptional circumstances – so I am not allowed, in law, to suspend any prison sentence.

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Told she would serve a 12 month prison term, the tiny defendant looked bewildered.

Judge Pearlman rejected passing a supervision or probation order to allow Ahronson to receive psychiatric treatment ‘you need and I am told you wish to involve yourself in.

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She added: ‘I accept the evidence you need treatment for an indefinite time and may never, in fact, be cured, and that a prison sentence will apparently delay the treatment you need and apparently want.

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Nick Wells, prosecuting, said Ahronson had worked for Coutts in the Strand since 1985 and was responsible for the unpaid cheque suspense account.

He said on 22 occasions Ahronson transferred money in sums between pnds stlng 250 to pnds stlng 6,500 into her own account at the Queen’s bank.

Finally bank investigators noticed a large debit on the account Ahronson was responsible for and located the credits to the defendants own staff account.

Mr Wells said the woman immediately admitted her dishonesty.

‘She described her condition as comfort shopping.

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He said Ahronson first stole to clear debts to enable to purchase a home with her partner but ‘temptation became too great’ and she continued to transfer money.

Ahronson maintained it was always her intention to repay the money but that possibility became ‘less and less realistic.

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Helen Smith, defending, said the ‘trustworthy’ defendant had lived a ‘nightmare’ always knowing she would would be caught out.

Miss Smith said Ahronson felt ‘genuine disgrace’ and after being confronted with the dishonesty left an interview with her manager in tears, rushed home and made a suicide bid.

Counsel said such was the woman’s distress she had seen ‘no way out’ and underwent a termination because she could see no way ‘that would allow her to keep the child.

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Psychiatrist Gerald Silverman described Ahronson as one of the ‘unfortunate’ people with a ‘grotesque eating disorder’ and ‘delusions about her appearance’ – her weight going up and down like ‘a yo-yo.

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Dr Silverman said the defendant felt ‘completely worthless’ and had ‘almost no self-esteem.

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He said the defendant had tried to create a situation where she was valued.

‘This leads her to buy people one way or another, ever since she was a schoolgirl.

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Miss Smith, pleading for Ahronson to receive medical help, said the defendant had tried to keep all her problems a secret.

‘But all her secrets are out now, everyone knows about it,’ she said.

‘Part of the problem of all this was not wanting to lose her partner, not wanting to disgrace her family.

She was trying to keep ten balls in the air at once – now, everyone knows her problems.

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