Accounts woman on £500,000 theft charges

A WOMAN was accused in Manchester of stealing nearly £500,000 in 10 years from a charity company.

Lesley Pickens (59), of Flash Cottages, Lees, faced 25 specimen charges of theft from Rathbones Training, an organisation for training local youngsters.

It was alleged at the city’s magistrates court that the thefts took place between March, 1998, and April this year.

Mrs Pickens, who offered no pleas to the charges, was head of accounts at the company where she had worked for 20 years.

The bench declined jurisdiction and she was bailed until November 5 for a committal hearing to the crown court.